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Post by Graveyardbride on Aug 12, 2021 3:54:17 GMT -5
Durst Testifies Concerning Wife’s Disappearance
While Robert Durst admitted he was using cocaine, meth and “lots of marijuana” in January 1982, he denied having anything to do with his wife’s disappearance. “Did I actually see Kathie walk through the doors and onto the train? The answer is no,” he testified. “But there is no place else to go.”
He also admitted lying when he told New York investigators back in 1982 that he had a drink with the mayor and spoke with Kathie Durst days after he dropped her at the train station. “That was a lie,” he said. “I wanted to convince him [the detective] that Kathie had gotten back.”
Kathie, he continued, was attending medical school at the time and it wasn’t unusual for the two of them to go for several days without seeing each other. This, he insisted, was the reason he did not notify family members or police until the Thursday after he saw her enter the train station on Sunday, January 31. He ignored messages from the medical school indicating his wife hadn’t attended classes because he thought she was out partying and blowing off steam. “It never dawned on me that anything could happen to her,” he added. “It was more like what had Kathie done to Kathie.”
When defense attorney Dick DeGuerin asked him to elaborate, Durst explained, “The cocaine and the alcohol. … I was still not imagining that something could happen to Kathie. I was not imagining how the last time I would see her was when she stepped out onto the train, I was imagining that she was out someplace having fun, with Gilberta or other friends.”
On Friday, February 5, 1982, Durst said he told his father and brothers he was going to file a missing person’s report, but they didn’t think it was a good idea. At the time, he told the jury, the Dursts had been accused of hosting brothels in their hotels and “Dad said he could see the headline in the New York Post: ‘Porn King Durst daughter-in-law gone missing.’”
Sources: Michael Ruiz, Fox News, August 11, 2021; and Natalie O'Neill, The New York Post, August 11, 2021.
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Post by Graveyardbride on Aug 20, 2021 7:44:28 GMT -5
Durst Testifies Concerning Prudence Farrow, Admits He Would Lie to Protect Himself On Thursday (August 19), Robert Durst’s seventh day on the witness stand, he discussed his alleged affair with Prudence Farrow (above), subject of the Beatles song “Dear Prudence” and sister of Mia Farrow, who starred in the 1968 horror film Rosemary’s Baby. According to the Defendant, he had been seeing Farrow and wished to pursue a relationship with her, but his wife wasn’t okay with it.
“You wanted to pursue a relationship with Prudence by your own statement. Kathy did not want you to pursue a relationship with Prudence, and I’m asking you how did that get resolved?” Prosecutor John Levin asked during cross-examination.
“Kathy disappeared,” was Durst’s succinct response.
“Yes, that is how it got resolved, isn’t it? ..., quipped Levin. “That is how it got resolved, Mr. Durst, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” the Defendant agreed.
Although Durst is on trial for killing his longtime friend Susan Berman in December 2000, the state also questioned the real estate heir concerning the disappearance of Kathie Durst on January 31, 1982, and accused him of taking her earrings. “Mr. Durst,” Levin enquired, “did you kill your wife Kathie and then take the earrings off of her body and put them back in Riverside Drive so you have them?”
“Thinking about that makes my skin crawl,” the Defendant replied. “The answer is no. I did not kill my wife. I did not take her earrings.”
When Kathie Durst disappeared, Robert Durst told police she was wearing diamond earrings, however, her sister later found the earrings in a drawer at the 37 Riverside Drive penthouse in New York City.
Earlier in the week, Durst freely admitted he would lie under oath to protect himself. “If you’ve said you’ve taken an oath to tell the truth, but you’ve also just told us that you would lie if you needed to,” Levin grilled the Defendant, “can you tell me how that would not destroy your credibility?”
Appearing frail and ill, in a raspy voice, Durst explained, “Because what I’m saying is mostly the truth. There are certain things I would lie about, certain very important things. ... ‘Did you kill Susan Berman?’ is strictly a hypothetical. I did not kill Susan Berman. But if I had, I would lie about it. ...
“I feel relieved that I’m close to getting this over, and I’m nervous, of course,” Durst continued. “What I want today is to be acquitted.”
When questioned about Berman’s death earlier in the week, Durst recounted discovering her body in a bedroom after entering the home through the back door, which was open. He claimed he attempted to call 911, but the cordless phone in the house was dead. He then drove to a pay phone, but hung up when the dispatcher asked for his name. This led to his writing the “cadaver” letter, he told the jury.
Levin then reminded the witness that for years, he had insisted he had not written the letter.
“Why?” the Defendant repeated. “Because it’s a very difficult thing to believe. I mean I have difficulty believing it myself. That I would write the letter had I had not killed Susan Berman.” While discussing the killing of Morris Black, defense lawyers reenacted the scene and at one point, actually wrestled on the floor in their suits and ties, prompting laughter from the courtroom.
“That’s a full-service law firm!” Durst quipped from the stand, eliciting even more laughs.Sources: Paul Best, Fox News, August 19, 2021; Associated Press, August 17, 2021; Daniel Trotta, Reuters, August 16, 2021; and Court TV.
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Post by kitty on Aug 20, 2021 13:18:14 GMT -5
So how will the jury decide if he's telling the truth? Also, what's the story of him and Prudence Farrow?
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Post by Graveyardbride on Sept 10, 2021 17:14:43 GMT -5
Jury Hears Closing Arguments in Susan Berman Murder TrialOn Wednesday, September 8, Deputy District Attorney Habib Balian told the jury that after Robert Durst killed his wife, Kathie Durst, in their lakeside home back in 1982, the multimillionaire asked himself “How do I get away with murder? What’s my go-to move?” The first step, the prosecutor continued, consulting what he called the Defendant’s imaginary “playbook,” was to get rid of the body, which he likely chopped into pieces – as he did the corpse of Morris Black 19 years later – and buried in New Jersey’s Pine Barrens.
But in addition to getting rid of the body, he had to conceal his wife’s disappearance for as long as possible and for this, Balian told the jury, Durst turned to his longtime friend, Susan Berman, whom he persuaded to call the medical school Kathie was attending, and posing as Kathie Durst, claim she was ill.
His third move, Balian continued, was to besmirch his wife’s name by alleging she had a cocaine habit, possibly suffered a breakdown and ran off with criminals. Although he offered a reward for information concerning her disappearance, just days after she vanished, Durst tossed out her clothing and textbooks
What Durst offered Berman for her services isn’t known, but after almost two decades, his loyal friend found herself in need of money. As a consequence, she told Durst the police wanted to talk with her about his wife’s disappearance – which wasn’t true – believing “Bobby” would offer her a significant sum of money. Instead, he implemented the fourth move in his playbook, flew to California, went to her home and shot her in the back of the head, after which he callously sent a note to police advising there was a “cadaver” at 1527 Benedict Canyon Drive.
Balian explained to the jury that following Kathie Durst’s disappearance, the Defendant embarked on a journey to avoid responsibility, creating a “fantastical tale” in which he posed as a female. During this time, he assassinated Susan Berman, killed and chopped up his neighbor, Morris Black, in Texas, lied to everyone, including a Texas jury, and was still evading capture when arrested for Berman’s murder and once again lied to a jury, this time in California. “This was an Olympic year,” Balian exclaimed. “If there was an event for running from the truth, he’d be on the top of the podium!”
Yesterday (September 9), prosecutors resumed their closing argument with Balian picking up a latex mask (above) from the evidence table and parading it around the courtroom for the jury’s benefit. This was the head-to-shoulder mask Durst was wearing when he was taken into custody in New Orleans on March 2015, he said.
The prosecutor then returned to the cadaver note, telling jurors they could ignore everything else in the case and they’d still “have a note sent by the killer that only the killer could have written that the Defendant has admitted only the killer wrote,” stipulating, “‘I wrote the cadaver note and envelope ....’”
Defense attorney Dick DeGuerin did not deny some of the prosecution’s contentions, agreeing Durst might be guilty of “atrocious” spousal abuse and the “gruesome” dismemberment of Morris Black, but did not kill his best friend Susan Berman.
Describing his client as a “sick old man” who was “badgered” for nine days under intense cross-examination, DeGuerin argued, “You could see from Bob Durst’s 14 days on the witness stand that his compass doesn’t point north. He’s unusual and I don’t think you need a psychiatrist to tell you that. ...
“I wouldn't blame you after hearing what you’ve heard if you hate Bob Durst and believe he’s a liar,” the defense lawyer continued. “Making Bob Durst a liar does not make him a killer. ... This is a circumstantial-evidence case. If you come to two or more reasonable conclusions about where the circumstantial evidence leads you, you have to say ‘not guilty.’”Sources: Michael Ruiz, Fox News, September 9, 2021; Brian Melley, Associated Press, September 9, 2021; Nancy Dillon, The New York Daily News, September 9, 2021; Kaelan Deese, Yahoo News, September 9, 2021; and The Associated Press, September 10, 2021.
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Post by kitty on Sept 11, 2021 9:06:38 GMT -5
A mask like that would be so hot and uncomfortable that I don't see how he could wear it for very long at the time. I remember how uncomfortable it was to wear a mask in the grocery store before I got the China virus vaccine and I can't even imagine wearing latex all over my face, head and neck.
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Post by Graveyardbride on Sept 17, 2021 18:52:37 GMT -5
Jury Finds Robert Durst Guilty of Killing Susan Berman
This afternoon (September 17), Robert Durst was found guilty of the first-dgree murder of Susan Berman, his longtime friend, in her Los Angeles home 20 years ago. Ms. Berman was discovered in her bedroom with a gunshot wound to the back of her head.
During 14 days of testimony, which even Judge Mark Windham called “devastating,” Durst denied killing Berman or his wife, Kathleen McCormack Durst, who disappeared in January 1982. However, when pressed by the prosecution, the real estate mogul said if he had killed them, he would lie about it.
Before the trial began, Durst finally admitted writing the infamous “cadaver note” and at trial, admitted, “It’s very difficult to believe, to accept, that I wrote the letter and did not kill Susan Berman.”
Sources: Cheri Mossburg, CNN, September 17, 2021; and WLNY, September 17, 2021.
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Post by Graveyardbride on Oct 9, 2021 18:45:56 GMT -5
New York Prosecutor Plans to Seek Indictment of Robert Durst in Wife’s MurderWestchester District Attorney Mimi Roach is planning to seek an indictment against Robert Durst for the murder of his former wife, Kathleen “Kathie” McCormack Durst, who disappeared in January 1982. Apparently, Roach plans to use the real estate mogul’s recent conviction in California for the murder of Susan Berman, who knew too much about what happened to Mrs. Durst, as fodder for the grand jury.
During the California trial, Durst testified that when his wife vanished, he figured she was “out someplace” having fun. “It hadn’t occurred to me that anything had happened to her,” he claimed. “It was more like: what had Kathie done to Kathie?” However, it is believed he convinced his longtime friend, Susan Berman, to call the medical school, pretending to be Mrs. Durst, in order to delay the investigation of her disappearance.
Years later, Berman, in dire financial straits, apparently told Durst the police wanted to talk to her about his wife’s disappearance – which wasn’t true – hoping he would offer her a substantial sum of money. Instead, in December 2000, he flew to Los Angeles, traveled to her small Benedict Canyon Drive home and shot her in the back of the head.
Durst, now 78-years-old, suffers from numerous health issues, including both bladder and esophageal cancer, and according to one of his treating doctors, “his death in the next few months would not be surprising.”Sources: Jordan Williams, The Hill, October 9, 2021; and KSAT, October 9, 2021.
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Post by Graveyardbride on Oct 17, 2021 9:37:07 GMT -5
Durst Gets Life, Tests Positive for COVID-19 Two Days Later On Thursday, October 14, 2021, Robert Durst was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility for parole for the murder of his longtime friend, Susan Berman, 21 years ago, and as soon as Judge Mark Windham announced the sentence, Durst’s lawyers announced they intended to appeal.
Just two days later, before he could be transferred from his hospital room-type cell at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles, the 78-year-old real estate heir tested positive for COVID-19 and is now hospitalized.
Durst, who is wheelchair-bound, suffers from numerous health issues, including cancer of both the esophagus and bladder, and his various problems were apparent during the trial, which was interrupted in June when he as hospitalized. When he returned to court, a catheter had been attached to his chair. The following month, the Defendant suffered a debilitating episode of diarrhea, which delayed proceedings until he could be returned to the hospital unit and cleaned up.
Dick DeGuerin, one of his lawyers, said he was notified his client had tested positive for the virus, after which he was hospitalized and placed on a ventilator. He was in “very bad condition” during the sentencing hearing, the lawyer told reporters. “He was having difficulty breathing and he was having difficulty communicating. He looked worse than I’ve ever seen him and I was very worried about him.”Sources: Kyle Morris, Fox News, October 16, 2021; The Associated Press, October 16, 2021; and David K. Li and Tim Fitzsimons, NBC News, October 14, 2021.
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Post by Graveyardbride on Jan 10, 2022 16:54:28 GMT -5
Robert Durst Dies of Cardiac Arrest
Convicted murderer Robert Allen Durst died at the San Joaquin General Hospital while in the custody of the California Department of corrections. The official cause of death is cardiac arrest, however, he had been suffering from numerous health problems, including cancer of the esophagus.
In September, Durst was found guilty of killing his longtime friend, Susan Berman in December 2000; in October, he was sentenced to life in prison; and in November, he was indicted for the murder of his first wife, Kathleen “Kathie” McCormack Durst, who disappeared in 1982. It was believed Susan Berman helped Durst cover up Kathie Durst’s murder and he killed her to keep her quiet.
Upon learning of Durst’s death, District Attorney Miriam Rocah of Westchester County, New York, expressed disappointment. “After 40 years spent seeking justice for her death, I know how upsetting this news must be for Kathleen Durst’s family. We had hoped to allow them the opportunity to see Mr. Durst finally face charges for Kathleen’s murder because we know that all families never stop wanting closure, justice and accountability.”
Sources: Robert D. McFadden, The New York TimesJanuary 10, 2022; NBC News, January 10, 2022; and The Associated Press, November 21, 2021.
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Post by kitty on Jan 10, 2022 20:09:10 GMT -5
I see that the official cause of death is cardiac arrest, but he tested positive for COVID-19 in October and I wonder if that had anything to do with his death.
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