Yesterday afternoon, this news outlet – and multiple other media outlets across the state of South Carolina – published reports indicating the double murder trial of disbarred attorney/ accused killer Alex Murdaugh had been scheduled to commence in Walterboro, S.C. on January 30, 2023 and continue through February 17, 2023, if necessary.
This reporting was originally based on information obtained from our network of judicial sources, and confirmed shortly thereafter by an order signed by S.C. circuit court judge Bentley Price – the chief administrative judge for the fourteenth circuit.
Here is a look at that document …
(Click to view)
(Via: )
Reporting on the January 30, 2023 trial date was also consistent with an order issued by S.C. chief justice Donald Beatty dispatching circuit court judge Clifton Newman to Colleton County on that date.
On Friday, however, a new order was filed with the clerk of court in Colleton County indicating the Murdaugh double homicide trial was scheduled to commence a week earlier – January 23, 2023 (and run through February 10, 2023, if necessary).
This new order was also signed by judge Price.
Take a look …
(Click to view)
(Via: Text)
The only differences between the two orders? The first one was signed on October 11 (Tuesday of this week) and does not bear a stamp indicating it was filed with the clerk of court in Colleton County.
The second order was signed on October 13 (Thursday of this week) and does bear a stamp indicating it was filed with the clerk.
“(Price) never filed the first order,” a source tracking the numerous paper trails associated with various Murdaugh-related cases told me.
So … when in the hell is this trial going to start?
At this point, your guess is as good as mine …
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
(Via: FITSNews)
Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and seven children. And yes, he has many hats – including that Minnesota Twins’ lid pictured above.
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