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‘Categorically False’: State Claims Murdaugh Attorney Lied About Polygraph Results
Prosecutors say the defense falsely told the court Murdaugh passed a polygraph, and state filings say no murder-related test was ever given.
- On August 14, 2026, Judge Debra McCaslin ruled that all references to polygraph testing are inadmissible at Alex Murdaugh's retrial, citing the long-standing legal principle that such tests are inherently unreliable and subjective.
- Defense attorney Dick Harpootlian claimed at the pretrial hearing that Murdaugh passed a polygraph "with flying colors," prompting prosecutors to file a motion against his allegedly "categorically false" statements.
- Prosecutors revealed on August 19, 2026, that Murdaugh never submitted to a state-level polygraph, though he failed a 2023 FBI test on financial matters where results showed he attempted to use "possible countermeasures against the test."
- Following the prosecution's filing, Harpootlian acknowledged in a letter that his previous claim was incorrect, writing, "I realize I mistakenly conflated several facts and my statement was incorrect," but declined to provide further details.
- Harpootlian argued that his incorrect statement did not influence the court's disposition, noting the judge had already decided to exclude all polygraph evidence, which also bars testimony about whether Murdaugh refused or was willing to take one.
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Alex Murdaugh defense team lied about polygraph results, prosecutors allege in new filing
Alex Murdaugh's defense team allegedly lied about polygraph results, a new Colleton County filing says. Prosecutors claim he never took a lie detector test during his 2023 trial.
·New York, United States
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Prosecutors accuse Alex Murdaugh’s defense team of lying about polygraph
WALTERSBORO, S.C. (Court TV) — Prosecutors have accused Alex Murdaugh‘s defense of trying to intentionally mislead the court and the public at a pretrial hearing with inaccurate statements about polygraph testing. Alex Murdaugh smiles in court on Aug. 14, 2026. (Tracy Glantz/The State, Henry Taylor/The Post and Courier) Murdaugh is preparing for a second trial on charges that he murdered his wife and son after the South Carolina Supreme Court ov…
·Atlanta, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources12
Leaning Left0Leaning Right6Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center, 50% Right
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center, 50% of the sources lean Right
50% Right
C 50%
R 50%
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