Clerk in Murdaugh homicide trial accused of plagiarism by way of co-author, gross sales of ebook halted

Becky Hill, the South Carolina courtroom clerk who oversaw the double homicide trial of Alex Murdaugh and wrote a ebook about it, used to be accused of plagiarism by way of her co-author. 

Neil Gordon, co-author of “In the back of the Doorways of Justice,” stated he has made up our minds to unpublish the ebook and forestall gross sales as a result of Hill took a portion of a piece of writing written by way of a BBC reporter and handed it off as her personal.

Gordon made the declare in a press unencumber acquired by way of Fox Information Virtual. He stated he came upon the “moral gaffe” whilst reviewing hundreds of pages of Hill’s emails launched to newshounds throughout the Freedom of Data Act.

He claimed he came upon a 12-page passage within the ebook’s preface, that Hill claimed she wrote herself, that used to be very similar to an excerpt from an upcoming article in regards to the Murdaugh path written by way of the BBC reporter and shared with Hill.

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“Once I faced Becky about this, she admitted she plagiarized the passage because of time limit pressures,” Gordon stated. “As a veteran journalist myself, I can’t excuse her conduct, nor can I condone it.”

Gordon stated he used to be “blindsided” by way of Hill’s movements and apologized to readers, the BBC and the reporter. He stated he’ll not spouse with Hill on any tasks.

Gordon notified the BBC reporter about Hill’s movements and stated he used to be advised the BBC’s lawyers are investigating.

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Alex Murdaugh within the Colleton County Courthouse all over his double homicide trial in South Carolina. Courtroom Clerk Becky Hill reads the jury’s responsible verdict March 2, 2023.  (Andrew J. Whitaker/The Put up Courier/Pool/ screenshot Fox Information)

Hill’s lawyers, Justin Bamberg and Will Lewis, launched a observation on Tuesday announcing Hill is “deeply remorseful” in regards to the allegations of plagiarism.

“The pressures of creating further content material below tight time cut-off dates led to Ms. Hill taking subject material written by way of BBC reporter Holly Honderich and filing it to her co-author Neil Gordon as though it had been her personal phrases,” the observation learn. “Ms. Hill accepts complete duty for this unlucky lapse in judgment and has for my part reached out to Ms. Honderich to specific her trustworthy apologies.”

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Colleton County Courtroom Clerk, Becky Hill crosses the road in Walterboro, South Carolina on Thursday, September 7, 2023. Hill is on the middle of a movement for a retrial within the Alex Murdaugh double-murder case. (Larry Paci for Fox Information Virtual)

Hill has additionally been accused of tampering with the jury to sway them towards a conviction. Murdaugh’s protection attorneys Jim Griffin and Dick Harpootlian filed a movement for a brand new trial in line with the allegations. Hill has denied the allegations.

Fox Information Virtual has reached out to Hill for remark, however has no longer but heard again.

Colleton County Courtroom Clerk, Rebecca Hill walks previous her daughter who’s making a song at a birthday celebration in Walterboro, South Carolina March 1, 2023. Becky Hill now could be on the middle of a movement for a retrial within the Alex Murdaugh double-murder case. (Mark Sims for Fox Information Virtual)

Former South Carolina legal professional normal Charlie Condon issued a observation on X, previously referred to as Twitter, pointing out that Hill’s credibility will probably be attacked the usage of this plagiarism fee if she testifies in a listening to at the jury tampering allegations within the Murdaugh double homicide case.

“I consider Becky Hill’s testimony might be crucial phase within the new trial listening to, relying at the scope of the listening to and the usual utilized by Justice Toal in comparing the allegations,” Condon posted. 

In October, the South Carolina Courtroom of Appeals granted Alex Murdaugh’s petition to foyer a decrease courtroom for a brand new homicide trial over accusations of jury tampering.

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Murdaugh, 55, used to be sentenced in March to 2 lifestyles phrases for fatally capturing his 52-year-old spouse, Maggie Murdaugh, and his son, Paul Murdaugh, 22, in June 2021.

Murdaugh used to be additionally sentenced to 27 years in November for his monetary crimes. He agreed to plead responsible to 22 counts — together with breach of believe, cash laundering, forgery and tax evasion — out of about 100 overall counts totaling up to $10 million in trade for the 27-year jail sentence.

Murdaugh up to now pleaded responsible to 22 counts of economic fraud and cash laundering in federal courtroom.

Fox Information Virtual’s Lorraine Taylor, Rebecca Rosenberg and Audrey Conklin contributed to this record.