The South Carolina Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned the double murder convictions of former attorney Alex Murdaugh, ordering a new trial in the killings of his wife and son.

Murdaugh had been convicted of murdering his wife Maggie and son Paul at the family's hunting lodge in June 2021. The high-profile case drew national attention due to Murdaugh's prominent legal family background and the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

In its ruling, the state's highest court wrote that it was "constrained to reverse the post-trial court's denial of Murdaugh's motion and remand for a new trial consistent with this opinion." The court's decision grants Murdaugh's request for a new trial that had been previously denied by lower courts.

The Supreme Court's ruling means Murdaugh's murder convictions have been set aside, though he will face retrial on the same charges. The decision represents a significant development in one of South Carolina's most closely watched criminal cases in recent years.

Murdaugh, once part of a powerful legal dynasty in the state, had maintained his innocence throughout the original proceedings. The new trial will give prosecutors another opportunity to present their case against him for the deaths of his family members.