Judge to issue written order on Alex Murdaugh bond request

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCSC) - After an hour and a half of testimony on Monday where the defense and prosecution called multiple people, State Grand Jury Presiding Judge Alison Renee Lee said she would issue a written order on a decision to reduce bond for prominent Lowcountry attorney Alex Murdaugh

It’s unclear when that decision would come down.

Lee had set a $7 million surety bond for Murdaugh on Dec. 13 on a total of 48 charges from multiple state grand jury indictments. That bond also included GPS monitoring, house arrest and a requirement that he surrender his passport and waive extradition if he leaves the state. Lee had also required Murdaugh to undergo substance abuse counseling and random drug testing at a residential facility within the state.

Defense attorney Dick Harpootlian told the court on Monday that, “Any significant surety bond is the same as no bond,” and the idea his client is a threat to the community is “bogus.”

“He has no cash. When he needed money for his son, his only solution was to have himself shot in the head,” Harpootlian said, referencing the failed suicide for hire plot in 2021.

Prosecutor Creighton Waters called Murdaugh’s case a “unique” one for his connections as part of an influential family in South Carolina law, and argued that the danger to the community is real.

Waters told the court that Murdaugh’s victims have experienced backlash in going against Murdaugh family.

“[They] thought he was their friend and used that to steal their money,” Waters said.

According to Waters, the state is monitoring Murdaugh’s jail calls, where he is reportedly talking about using his retirement funds and appears to be “not a man concerned about spending money… and acts like he has assets in his control.”

Eric Bland on behalf of the Satterfield family said there was “tremendous” concern about Murdaugh’s life and past suicidal attempt.

“He holds all the answers,” Bland said and asked the court if bond was lowered to ensure that Murdaugh is confined to his home.

Justin Bamberg, who represents several other victims, says “committing suicide is the ultimate attempt to flee,” and requested the court to maintain the current bond.

“These are people who suffered physical harm, the money that was misappropriated… wasn’t fun money,” Bamberg said.

SPECIAL SECTION: The Murdaugh Cases

Murdaugh’s attorneys, Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin say an email from court-appointed co-receivers of his assets shows less than $10,000 in Murdaugh’s account, arguing that bond amount was “tantamount to no bond at all.”

Murdaugh told the court he understands there may be concerns that he could be a danger to himself in connection with a Labor Day weekend shooting in which he was wounded and later accused of hiring someone to fatally shoot him as part of an insurance fraud scheme.

“I made a terrible decision that I regret and frankly I’m embarrassed about,” Murdaugh said. “I’m not in that place now.”