Murdaugh retrial venue clash looms as judge weighs Charleston move

Friday’s Lexington status hearing will weigh moving Alex Murdaugh’s second murder trial from Colleton County to Charleston, with prosecutors opposing Charleston due to cost and logistics while the defense argues a larger Charleston-area pool would improve impartiality. The session also covers motions to dismiss the 2022 indictments over allegedly fabricated evidence, a bid for independent DNA testing, and other pretrial issues ahead of the April 2027 retrial, as Judge Debra McCaslin has signaled flexibility on venue and recently ordered Murdaugh to appear unshackled when media are present.