How a Court Clerk Broke the Murdaugh Verdict: How Becky Hill Primed the Jury

Alex Murdaugh's murder convictions were just overturned by the South Carolina Supreme Court — not on new evidence, but on language. Five justices, unanimously, ruled that Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill primed the jury before Murdaugh testified, calling her conduct "breathtaking and disgraceful." This episode is a linguistics breakdown of Opinion No. 28329. We look at what Hill actually said to the jurors, how it shaped the verdict, why the court reached for unusually moral language to describe it — and what it means for the retrial. ______________________________________________________________ Hi Everyone! Thank you for joining me as we take the magnifying glass to the spoken and written words connected to present and past criminal cases. Will you also join me in creating a friendly community of people sharing insights and ideas in a safe and positive space? Suggestions always welcome! I can be reached through the Comments section on or here: [email protected]. Buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/guiltywords Paypal: paypal.me/GuiltywordsYT