re: Alex Murdaugh's murder conviction overturned - new trial to begin

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The first trial of Jim Williams, held in 1982, resulted in a guilty verdict. Williams was sentenced to life in prison, but quickly appealed. During the appeal, holes were made in the responding officer’s report of the murder scene, and Williams was given a new trial in 1983.

The 1983 trial again resulted in a guilty verdict. The major difference in the second trial was that Williams discussed his sexuality and relationship with Hansford. Williams would once again appeal, and the Georgia Supreme Court again overturned the verdict in 1985. Their reason was that a sheriff had testified as an expert witness, which he was not.

Things took a turn for Williams when the 1987 trial ended in a mistrial. Although 11 jurors believed Williams was guilty, there was one holdout. The evidence that resulted in the hung jury was that Hansford’s hands weren’t bagged at the crime scene. This meant any gunpowder residue could have been disturbed.

1989 Trial
Jim Williams during his final 1989 trial — the end of Savannah’s most infamous courtroom saga. Copyright by US Ghost Adventures
A fourth and final trial took place in Augusta, GA, in 1989. The move was meant to give Williams a better chance at an unbiased jury. The move proved beneficial to Williams, who was found not guilty in May 1989. It took the jury only an hour to reach its verdict. After eight years of jail time and legal battles, Jim Williams was a free man. He promptly returned to Mercer House.

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Maybe an actual lawyer could chime in, but I don't think any of the previous 3 trials represent double jeopardy. It was 2 guilty verdicts overturned on appeal and a mistrial. The prosecution can retry those cases if they choose. Double jeopardy would be if he was acquitted on a charge and they retried on the same charge.

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I never said it did

Indeed, my point was the exact opposite

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Should've said that in your prior post.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't hesitate before I posted that. I thought, "Kafka has to know what this means".

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I think there was someone else with him at the kennels and possibly aided in killing his wife and son,

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I think it was Buster the oldest son. Definitely were two shooters. Dad took the rap.

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I would love to know how the surviving son is doing

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Buster is living in Bluffton with that wife. Not sure what he’s doing for a living, but Bluffton is a pretty nice, affluent, coastal town near Hilton Head.

Shenanigans or no shenanigans, somebody's gotta pay for those sorry arse bland low country boils.

The follow-on doc is on Netflix now:

Alex Murdaugh, Unconvicted.

It is only 30 minutes, but it runs through the salient points that lead to the SC Sup. Ct.'s remittitur returning jurisdiction to Colleton County for a new trial.

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Paid by whom? Alex is broke.

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If I had to guess, I would say the older ginger is likely paying for it.

Think about it. His family were multi-millionaires before all of this happened. The dad is in jail (no money), the mom is dead (no money), the younger ginger brother is dead (no money). The multimillions the family originally had probably ended up with the older ginger.

But that’s not the only source of wealth for him. He’s probably making more from all of these books and Netflix shows, than his wealthy family ever made by being corrupt, rich lawyers for multiple generations.

It wouldn’t surprise me if the older ginger is one of the wealthiest gingers to ever walk the face of the earth.