"Judge Denies Alex Murdaugh's Request for New Murder Trial Amid Jury Tampering Allegation"

A judge denied Alex Murdaugh's request for a new trial in the murder of his wife and son, ruling that the court clerk's "foolish and fleeting" comments did not affect the jury's verdict. The judge criticized the clerk for being "attracted by the siren call of celebrity" and not being completely credible in her testimony. Murdaugh's lawyers plan to appeal, hoping that the state's appellate courts will view the law differently and not require them to prove that the clerk's comments were prejudicial.