South Carolina prosecutors have expressed strong opposition to Alex Murdaugh’s request to relocate his trial to Charleston. They describe the defense’s insistence on Charleston as a logistical challenge and unnecessarily costly.
In a court document filed on Wednesday, the state urged the court to dismiss Murdaugh’s attempt to make the historic “Holy City” the sole alternative venue. Officials argue that although Charleston is famous for its industry, arts, and tourism, it is the most challenging county in South Carolina to conduct a trial of this scale.
Murdaugh’s trial is provisionally scheduled to start in April 2027. Prosecutors have compiled a detailed list of logistical issues, highlighting that downtown traffic and parking are already problematic on regular business days. Bringing in jurors, witnesses, media, and spectators would exacerbate these issues.
The filing also warns that the spring tourist season, along with the Masters week traffic, would cause local hotel prices to soar to more than double or triple those in comparable areas. Furthermore, spring storms and king tides often result in downtown flooding, hindering transport.
Prosecuting attorney Creighton Waters said, “The county immediately bordering Colleton undermines the rationale for a change of venue.”
Initially, the defense requested the venue change, noting the significant attention from the first trial, but prosecutors argue that this does not automatically qualify Murdaugh for such a change. They suggest alternatives like Spartanburg, York, or Florence.
The defense team filed the motion to relocate the trial to Charleston County because of extensive media coverage. They cite reasons such as local publicity, family connections, and alleged courthouse misconduct in Colleton County as justifications.
Murdaugh is scheduled to attend a pretrial hearing on Friday at 10 a.m. in the Lexington County Courthouse.