Judge urges prosecutors and defense to settle evidence disputes in Murdaugh retrial

At a pre-trial status conference, South Carolina Judge Debra R. McCaslin addressed the ongoing fight between prosecutors and Alex Murdaugh’s defense over what evidence must be exchanged before the retrial set for next year. Items in dispute include cellphone data from the victims, information about a police officer with family ties, and inquiries into other potential suspects. The judge warned that the courtroom should not become a forum for these battles, urging the parties to negotiate disclosures independently.

The defense is pressing for further DNA analysis of material found under Maggie Murdaugh’s fingernails and for ballistic reports, while the prosecution wants to release a report on how local police handled the murder weapons. Murdaugh, whose 2023 murder convictions were vacated after a clerk’s misconduct, remains incarcerated on separate financial-crime charges linked to the killings.