Alex Murdaugh’s lead attorney, Dick Harpootlian, has raised significant concerns about the potential impact of newly uncovered text messages between the disgraced former attorney and Curtis ‘Eddie’ Smith on the defense’s strategic approach during the trial. These texts, which were not provided to the defense during the initial proceedings, have sparked discussions about whether their omission might have altered critical decisions, such as the decision not to call Smith as a witness. Harpootlian, a veteran South Carolina defense attorney and former state senator, emphasized that the absence of these texts could have significantly influenced the outcome of the case, especially given their potential to reveal key details about the timeline of events leading up to the murders.
The texts, recently revealed by FITSNews, indicate that Smith and Murdaugh were in contact in the days leading up to the tragic events of June 7, 2021, when Murdaugh’s wife Maggie and youngest son Paul were murdered at their family’s hunting estate in Colleton County, South Carolina. The messages, which include references to drug distributions, suggest that some of these transactions occurred directly before the murders. Harpootlian noted that if the defense had been aware of these communications earlier, it could have changed the course of the trial, potentially leading to a different outcome.
Despite the evidence pointing to Smith’s substantial role in distributing OxyContin, he has not been prosecuted, a fact that has raised questions about the justice system’s handling of the case. Harpootlian expressed disappointment at this lack of action, noting that everyone else who was indicted has pleaded guilty, leaving Smith’s situation as an anomaly. He believes that the undisclosed texts might have provided crucial evidence that could have influenced the decision to call Smith as a witness, thereby altering the trial’s trajectory.
The ongoing appeal by Murdaugh’s legal team, which is based on allegations of jury tampering by former Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill, adds another layer to the case. Harpootlian outlined the potential for a new trial, highlighting the significance of the jury tampering allegations and their implications for the legal proceedings. The case remains a focal point of public and legal interest, with the potential for substantial changes in the outcome if the appeals are successful.