March 15, 2023
https://www.newsweek.com/alex-murdaugh-chances-overturning-double-murder-conviction-appeal-1786883
Criminal defense attorney Rachel Fiset, managing partner of Los Angeles-based Zweiback, Fiset & Zalduendo, spoke to Newsweek about the chances of Murdaugh’s appeal being overturned.
Fiset remarked that it was highly unlikely Murdaugh’s conviction would be overturned and said the former lawyer would have an “uphill battle” with the appeal.
She told Newsweek: “Murdaugh has informed the court that he will be filing an appeal, which is not surprising given his conviction and life sentence. He has not yet informed the court, however, on what basis he will seek to have his conviction overturned.
“It is likely that he will argue that the judge’s ruling allowing all of his financial crimes to be heard by the jury should be overturned on the basis that it unduly prejudiced the jury against him such that he could not get a fair trial on the ‘merits’ of the evidence in the murder trials.
“No matter what the basis is for his appeal, Murdaugh has an uphill battle. Not only does he have to show that there was an error made in the trial, but he also has to show that without that error he would not have been convicted.
“He may attempt every avenue of appeal and take it to the highest court possible before he reaches an end, but in all events it is highly unlikely that his conviction and sentence will be overturned.”
