Jury Tampering Probe Will Be Unsealed In Alex Murdaugh Case

A lawyer for a juror who was removed from Alex Murdaugh's criminal trial shortly before deliberations began asked the new judge today to end a protective order that restricts him from disseminating information about a jury tampering investigation that ended with no charges. Joseph M. McCulloch said his client Myra Crosby "asked me to pursue this because she wants to see the quality of the investigation." "She wants to evaluate it. She believes the public should be able to evaluate it. She is hopeful that it will lead to additional information in support of her belief that she was targeted through an orchestrated effort to remove her from the jury," said McCulloch, who is based in Columbia. 00:12 "I''m here representing Myra Crosby, a former deposed jury in the criminal trial, which you're obviously familiar with, and given your nature of preparation, I know you've read my initial filings." 03:23 "I'm here today simply asking, Your Honor, pursuant to the freedom of information, and you know the purpose of the FOI is to simply make it possible for citizens and their representatives to learn and review the activities of their government." "And secondarily, Ms. Crosby asked me to pursue this because she wants to see the quality of the investigation. She wants to evaluate it. She believes the public should be able to evaluate it. She is hopeful that it will lead to additional information in support of her belief that she was targeted through an orchestrated effort to remove her from the jury." 05:36 Prosecutor Creighton Waters: "First of all, as we detail in our response, there were multiple protective orders during the course of this. Of course, the first thing we have to talk about is what you just recognized: is that the court promised those jurors over and over again, both Judge Newman and Justice Toll, we're not going to release your identity." 07:30 McCulloch: "I don't know how you're going to redact the identity of the person that everybody in the universe knows was the object of the in-camera proceedings and the only person who was removed from the jury. But I certainly will respect your ruling." 07:59 Waters: "Well, if someone else decided to run their mouth and go to the media, then that's on them and ain't on us." 08:31 Judge "So this is the deal. We're going to unseal it. We're going to protect the jurors' names, or I want that redacted." 11:40 next pretrial Nov. 13 at 10 a.m. 14:34 Judge: "I want to be on this. It's going to be long before November. Is it possible for us to have a quick hearing so we can decide what to do with the DNA?"