[Part One of Two]
The first hearing in Alex Murdaugh’s retrial was supposed to signal a new era for Team Murdaugh. Dick Harpootlian promised bigger, bolder, different. What we got instead? Old Dick. Old Trick.
Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell break down every move from the June 29 scheduling hearing before Judge Debra McCaslin — the no-nonsense judge who called the warden herself, set a firm April 5, 2027 trial date, and wasn’t about to let Dick charm, delay, or bully his way through her courtroom.
From the shackle saga to the laptop drama to Team Murdaugh’s DNA boondoggle, it’s all here.
Plus: what Dick’s courtroom behavior may reveal about his real strategy — and why the Becky Hill federal lawsuit might not be about the money at all.
Let’s Dive In… 🥽 🦈
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Crowd the Courtroom 3.0 – Week of July 6, 2026 📅
Alex Murdaugh’s Second Pre-Trial Hearing – Aug 14, 2026 📅
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