Alex Murdaugh’s Former Banker Wins New Trial on Fraud Charges

The one-time banker for convicted murderer and admitted fraudster Alex Murdaugh on Thursday won his Fourth Circuit appeal to vacate convictions for bank and wire fraud.

The removal of a juror who said she didn’t want to be replaced but was having anxiety due to some of the reactions to her decision during deliberations violated Russell Lafitte’s right to an impartial jury, the court said.

The district court also violated Lafitte’s Fifth Amendment right to be present when it excluded him and his lawyer from an in-chambers interview during which the judge made the decision to remove the juror.

Prosecutors ...