Overview
- Defense attorney Dick Harpootlian told a judge on Aug. 14 that Alex Murdaugh had “passed a polygraph, flying colors,” a statement prosecutors now say was factually false.
- State prosecutors filed a formal correction on Aug. 19–20 asking the court to rectify what they called a deliberate attempt to prejudice the court and public.
- Harpootlian acknowledged the error in a letter to the judge, said he had conflated facts, and apologized to the court and the state for the confusion.
- The Attorney General's filing notes an unrelated FBI polygraph was given in October 2023 about Murdaugh's financial crimes, which he reportedly failed and may have tried to countermeasure, and that no polygraph was ever taken about the murders.
- A judge has already barred any mention of polygraph tests at the retrial, which was moved out of Colleton County and is scheduled for April next year, and prosecutors say the correction reflects concern over prejudicial pretrial statements that could affect venue and juror impressions.