Alex Murdaugh's defense says a new review of Maggie Murdaugh's fingernail evidence identified male DNA beneath both hands, alongside male DNA on the phone recovered after her killing. At an October 16 pretrial hearing, defense counsel argued that some of the genetic material cannot be attributed to Alex. Does it point to someone else who was there, or does the limited sample have an explanation that further testing may never resolve? The defense says its review went beyond the original laboratory summary, which described Maggie's DNA under one hand. Counsel also pointed to a phone swab whose earlier report did not offer a conclusive interpretation. Judge Debra McCaslin authorized independent Y-STR testing, a method that focuses on male-line DNA when a sample contains much more female genetic material. Prosecutors objected because testing may use up the limited material left. The result, not the suggestion, will determine whether those samples help either side. The same hearing exposed another credibility fight. Dick Harpootlian had said Murdaugh passed a polygraph with flying colors. The judge corrected that account: he failed a test concerning financial matters, and there was no polygraph concerning Maggie and Paul's deaths. The defense also complained about a 73-gigabyte discovery delivery before the 2023 trial. The state resisted an expansive comparison of unrelated .300 Blackout shootings, and the judge rejected that request. Tony Brueski and Robin Dreeke confront what the new test might establish, why the court is insisting on precision, and how these disputes shape an April 5, 2027 retrial in Sumter County. Alex Murdaugh denies killing Maggie and Paul; his earlier murder convictions were overturned after the court found improper jury influence. Listen Anywhere You Get Podcasts: https://pod.link/1655749292 Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod?sub_confirmation=1 Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/ Watch Robin Dreeke's MasterClass: http://masterclass.com/robindreeke Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice. #AlexMurdaugh #MaggieMurdaugh #HiddenKillers #MurdaughRetrial #DNAEvidence #YSTR #SLED #DickHarpootlian #SumterCounty #TrueCrime