COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The former court clerk in South Carolina who helped with the trial of attorney Alex Murdaugh, a powerful, wealthy lawyer convicted of killing his wife and son, showed sealed court exhibits to a reporter and then lied about it, authorities said Wednesday.
In all, former Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill was arrested on four charges. She faces obstruction of justice and perjury for showing a reporter photographs that were sealed court exhibits and then lying about it, according to court documents. Sealed exhibits are only for viewing by the jury, lawyers in the case, and court workers.
She also faces two counts of misconduct in office for taking bonuses and promoting through her public office a book she wrote on the trial, according to the warrants.
Hill, 57, was released on bail after court appearances in Colleton County and Richland County. Her lawyers didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
“She lives here. She turned herself in. We found out about these charges last night,” Hill’s attorney Will Lewis said during her appearance in Colleton County court, according to a livestream of the hearing by WCIV-TV.
