Alex Murdaugh retrial set for next year after South Carolina Supreme Court overturned double murder conviction 

Alex Murdaugh's retrial on charges alleging he murdered his wife and son has been set for next year. 

Newly assigned Judge Debra McCaslin set the trial date for April 5, 2027, saying that once she sets a date, she sticks to it.

Murdaugh shuffled into a full courtroom in chains and his prison jumpsuit for a status conference on Monday, as he returned to court for the first time since the South Carolina Supreme Court overturned his double murder conviction over "shocking jury interference."A jury had found him guilty in 2023 of killing his wife, Margaret "Maggie" Murdaugh, 52, and younger son, Paul Murdaugh, 22, in a gruesome crime that captured global headlines. Both victims were found dead from multiple gunshot wounds near the dog kennels at the family's hunting estate in 2021.

McCaslin had a laundry list of questions for both sides, the first of which was whether discovery had been met and if both sides had everything that they needed.

Defense attorney Dick Harpootlian replied that "we don't know what we don't know," implying that new evidence could still be out there. 

Defense attorney Jim Griffin said he wants the DNA under Maggie's fingernails to be analyzed by genetic genealogy. He said he is not sure how long that will take, using that as an argument as to why the retrial cannot happen quickly.

The defense had filed a motion, which it later withdrew, requesting that Murdaugh be allowed to appear in street clothes, saying the orange prison jumpsuit and chains would be prejudicial against him in front of the jury.

In a dramatic moment, Harpootlian had Murdaugh stand up, pointing out his multiple chains and accusing the state of "parading him around in a jumpsuit like an animal."

Prosecutors argued that it was basic policy to have a convicted felon appear this way. McCaslin said she will take it under advisement whether she will allow Murdaugh to wear civilian clothes.

Murdaugh has remained in prison since the ruling, as he is also serving out concurrent sentences for state and federal financial crimes, to which he pleaded guilty. While Murdaugh has acknowledged he lied and stole from his former clients, he has consistently maintained his innocence related to the 2021 double murder. 

"Alex has said from day one that he did not kill his wife and son. We look forward to a new trial conducted consistent with the Constitution and the guidance this Court has provided," Murdaugh's lawyers said after the May ruling. His lawyers recently filed a civil lawsuit against Hill for allegedly violating his right to a fair trial. 

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson -- who recently won the Republican primary for governor -- has vowed to "aggressively" retry the murder case "as soon as possible."

The South Carolina Supreme Court threw out the convictions last month after concluding that a court clerk tainted the jury's verdict by making comments to the jurors that "egregiously attacked Murdaugh's credibility and his defense."

"Both the State and Murdaugh's defense skillfully presented their cases to the jury as the trial court deftly presided over this complicated and high-profile matter. However, their efforts were in vain because Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill placed her fingers on the scales of justice, thereby denying Murdaugh his right to a fair trial by an impartial jury," the ruling said. 

Ahead of the conference, Murdaugh's lawyers filed a motion to change the venue of the trial and access evidence in the case. They have argued that Murdaugh cannot have a fair trial in the countries where his family name has been "synonymous with the local legal system for nearly a century." 

"The basis for this motion is that this is among the most heavily publicized criminal prosecutions in the history of this State. For years Defendant, his family, and the law firm with which his family was associated for generations have been the subject of saturating, sensational, and continuous media coverage," the motion said. 

The state has not yet responded to the motion. During Monday's hearing, McCaslin requested that the two sides talk about it and let her know.

The next pretrial hearing has been set for Aug. 14.

Supreme Court rejects Trump's appeal of 2022 E. Jean Carroll defamation case

 

The Supreme Court has denied President Donald Trump's appeal of the $5 million jury finding in the 2022 defamation case brought against him by the writer E. Jean Carroll. 

The decision means the judgment against Trump stands and that he will have to pay it.

A New York jury in 2023 awarded Carroll $5 million in damages after it found Trump liable for sexually abusing her in the dressing room of a Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan in the mid-1990s, and for defaming her in 2022 when he denied the allegations by calling them "a Hoax and a lie" and saying, "This woman is not my type!"

Responding to Monday's decision, Carroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, said in a statement, "Today's Supreme Court decision affirms once and for all the jury's unanimous verdict that President Donald J. Trump sexually assaulted and defamed E. Jean Carroll. His multiple efforts to appeal that verdict have all failed and today's ruling ends his quest to avoid accountability for his actions."

Trump had argued that the judge in the case should not have allowed the jury to view an excerpt from the infamous "Access Hollywood" tape, in which Trump is heard describing lewd behavior that he downplayed as "locker room talk." 

Trump also faulted the trial judge for allowing testimony from two women -- Jessica Leeds and Natasha Stoynoff -- who claimed that Trump had sexually assaulted them, which Trump denies.A federal appeals court said the evidence was properly admitted and, even if it wasn't, there was no major harm to Trump. 

"The petition does not challenge -- indeed, does not mention -- the Second Circuit's holding that were there any error here, it did not prejudice petitioner," Kaplan argued.

Trump is also appealing a separate but related defamation judgment involving Carroll that ordered him to pay $83 million.

 

Disney Celebrates America: What to expect on July 3 and 4 as ABC marks America's 250th anniversary

ABC is marking America's 250th anniversary with 24 hours of unparalleled programming called "Disney Celebrates America."

The multi-platform broadcast, led by ABC News "World News Tonight" anchor David Muir, will feature coverage across all 50 states, beginning July 3 and running through July 4.

The coverage kicks off at 10 p.m. ET on Friday, July 3 with an unforgettable landmark, artistic event transforming the public's experience of the Statue of Liberty with the Consulate General of France and Muir taking viewers along for a rare look inside of Lady Liberty.

As the clock strikes midnight on Saturday, July 4, ABC News will bring audiences to the first parade in the nation in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.Good Morning America" will have a special three-hour show which will include co-anchors Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos and Michael Strahan sharing their own American journeys.

After "GMA," ABC News anchors and correspondents will welcome viewers to the 7 Wonders of America and cities across the country, showcasing the majestic geography, cultural heritage and pivotal moments that define 250 years of American history, along with celebrations, performances and interviews with leading newsmakers.In the afternoon, ESPN will air the finals of The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, with champions Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo set to return to Coney Island to seek a new world record.

On the night of July 4, after a special edition of "World News Tonight," ABC will host the Star-Spangled Bash in Nashville, featuring performances from artists including Reba McEntire, Nick Jonas, Boyz II Men, Tim McGraw, Brothers Osborne and Lauren Daigle.

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to gather in downtown Nashville for the bash, which is hosted by Ryan Seacrest and airs at 8 p.m. ET.

The event will also feature one of the largest fireworks and drone shows in the U.S., set to a live score by the Nashville Symphony.

Iran live updates: Israel targets Hezbollah in Lebanon, as US and Iran agree to stop strikes over strait

 

President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.

The U.S. and Iran again traded aerial strikes over the weekend, a back-and-forth that followed an Iranian attack on a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, Washington said. The U.S. and Iran agreed on Sunday to stop those attacks and allow tankers to move freely through the strait, a U.S. official told ABC News.

Delegations from the United States and Iran entered negotiations this month aimed at a war-ending deal based on a memorandum of understanding signed by both countries.

The fighting in southern Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, a militant group backed by Iran and based in Lebanon, has threatened to throw off track ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

The U.S. on Friday announced a "framework" for future talks between Israel and Lebanon, which would be facilitated by Washington, seeking to end the fighting in Lebanon. Hezbollah on Saturday responded to that framework, saying in a statement it was rejecting the agreement, continuing its resistance and holding on to its weapons.

Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have said Israel plans to remain in a "security zone" in southern Lebanon.

The Israeli Air Force struck overnight alleged Hezbollah command centers in Nabatieh and Mayfadoun in southern Lebanon, the IDF said early Monday.

"Additionally, troops struck and dismantled a launcher that Hezbollah continued using to attack them," the IDF said on social media.

Man, 28, dragged out to sea and killed by crocodile at popular resort: Police

 A 28-year-old man was killed in a crocodile attack on a popular beach in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on Friday evening, according to state authorities.

The victim, who was from Mexico, was on the beach in front of the Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa when he was allegedly attacked by the reptile and dragged out to sea, Jalisco State Police said in a statement on Sunday.

The incident happened around 6 p.m. local time, police noted.

The victim’s body was recovered Saturday morning about 300 meters offshore after an overnight search and rescue operation at sea and on land.

Manhunt underway after 2-year-old, 2 women killed in 'horrifying' Mississippi shooting, police say

 Police in Mississippi are searching for a suspect after two woman and a toddler were shot and killed on Saturday. 

The women, aged 26 and 20, were found dead alongside a 2-year-old, Jackson Police Department Chief RaShall Brackney told reporters early on Sunday. 

Police had responded to a call for an aggravated assault on the 300 block of Queen Alexandria Lane at about 10:10 p.m. on Saturday, Brackney said, adding, "And what they found was something horrifying."

All three victims had "multiple" gunshot wounds, she said. 

Police early on Sunday said they were searching for a Red Mitsubishi Mirage that "was taken." Brackney did not identify a suspect, but said that "currently we believe that suspect, obviously, is armed and dangerous and is related to this triple homicide that we have here." 

In an update later on Sunday, police said they had found the vehicle in North Jackson, but it was "unoccupied at the time it was located."

Jackson Mayor John Horhn said in a statement that the city would begin deploying additional resources to combat gun violence.

"Our city is hurting. In recent days, we have seen a troubling rise in gun-related violence, shootings, and senseless loss of life," he said. "No family should have to face the pain of losing a loved one to violence. Violence against the innocent is intolerable, and as your Mayor, I will not accept this as the norm for our community."

Iran live updates: US and Iran agree to stop strikes, US official says

 

President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.

Delegations from the United States and Iran meet last weekend at the Bürgenstock resort in Switzerland, where they entered negotiations aimed at a war-ending deal based on a memorandum of understanding signed last week by both countries.

US and Iran agree to stop strikes, allow vessels through Strait of Hormuz: US official

The U.S. and Iran have agreed to stop attacks and allow vessels to move freely through the Strait of Hormuz, a U.S. official told ABC News.

The official said technical talks are slated to continue on all areas of the memorandum of understanding, but did not provide further details on timing.

-ABC News' Rachel Scott

Iranian attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain failed: US official

All drones and missiles launched by Iran at Kuwait and Bahrain "were shot down, intercepted, or failed to reach their intended targets," a U.S. official told ABC News.

"There were no U.S. injuries or impacts to American locations,” the official said.

They stressed that Iran had failed in its attacks.

-ABC News' Luis Martinez

US-Iran talks still planned despite strikes: US official

Despite the escalating attacks and threats, a senior Trump administration official told ABC News the two sides are still talking.

Technical talks with Iran on how to implement the memorandum of understanding are still planned for the coming days, the official said.

The official added that no talks have been canceled, and both sides are still exchanging messages through deconfliction channels.

-ABC News' Selina Wang

IDF striking in southern Lebanon, Netanyahu says

In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said Sunday that the IDF is striking in southern Lebanon.

"As part of Operation Closing Verse, the IDF has now destroyed the underground terror infrastructure of the Hezbollah terrorist organization in the area of the village of Majdal Zun in southern Lebanon," Netanyahu said in the statement, which was also posted to his office's official X account.

"The tunnel, which is over 200 meters long and more than 25 meters deep, contained hundreds of weapons and several launch silos intended to strike the territory of the State of Israel and its citizens. Israel informed the United States and the American representative in Lebanon in advance of the destruction of the infrastructure," the post further said.

"IDF commanders and fighters will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon and will continue to destroy terrorist infrastructure, remove threats from northern communities, and maintain the security of Israeli citizens," the post concluded.

IDF says it killed Hezbollah militant who allegedly killed Israeli soldier

The Israeli military says its troops killed a Hezbollah militant that it said was responsible for the death of an Israeli soldier in Deir Siryan, southern Lebanon, overnight.

"IDF soldiers from the Golani Brigade Combat Team encountered a Hezbollah terrorist after entering a suspicious structure in the area of Deir Siryan in southern Lebanon. As a result of the encounter, Captain David Hazutt fell, and an additional IDF soldier was lightly injured," the IDF statement said.

"Following extensive searches conducted by IDF soldiers in the area, the terrorist was located in one of the structures near the point of the encounter and was eliminated by the soldiers," the statement continued, adding that the IDF "will continue to operate to remove any threat posed to IDF soldiers and will not allow the Hezbollah terrorist organization to harm Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers."

-ABC News' Claire Bower

Iran claims sole responsibility for restoring Strait of Hormuz shipping traffic

Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said on Sunday that only Iran is responsible for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and restoring shipping traffic to pre-war levels.

"These arrangements are being adopted and implemented, and responsibility for them rests with the Islamic Republic of Iran," Araghchi said during a news conference alongside his Iraqi counterpart on Sunday. "No other body or country bears any responsibility in this regard."

The minister's comments followed U.S. strikes on Iranian targets, which came after officials in Washington accused Tehran of targeting a tanker in the strait. Both the United States and Iran have claimed in recent weeks to have control over the strait.