He’s 73-years-old, sick, and already behind bars while awaiting further trials. But he’s so deadly, prosecutors fear he can still reach them — and they’re so afraid of his wrath, they’re writing down personal confessions and video taping their witness’ testimony before the trial.
Multimillionaire Robert Durst is a “menace to society” and a danger to several witnesses in his murder case, prosecutors said in an effort to preserve their testimony in case they get killed.
Durst has killed two people who had information in the mysterious disappearance of his first wife and was prepared to kill others who might have stopped him, Deputy District Attorney John Lewin said in court papers before a hearing Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court.
“Defendant is a menace to society,” Lewin wrote. “He has demonstrated a willingness to use deadly force to escape justice — killing two people and arming himself with deadly weapons to kill anyone who stood in his way of escape.”
Defense lawyers have blasted the request, saying it’s absurd that the frail 73-year-old who is behind bars is a threat to anyone. They also said it was premature, coming before the scheduling of a preliminary hearing to determine if Durst faces trial, as well as a violation of his right to a fair trial.
“There is simply no factual basis upon which one could claim that Mr. Durst has the ability to harm anyone,” attorney Donald Re wrote in court documents.
The defense also is fighting the prosecutor’s request to keep from disclosing the names of at least two “secret witnesses” until shortly before their testimony.
Prosecutors want to keep their identities under wraps for their safety. The testimony will be videotaped and used at a possible trial only if they can’t appear in court.
Durst has pleaded not guilty to one count of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of his best friend, Susan Berman, in 2000. Lewin said Durst killed her because she had incriminating information in Kathleen Durst’s 1982 disappearance in New York.
Prosecutors are taking an aggressive approach in publicly laying out their theory on the case before knowing if it will go to trial and evidence they might present.
The defense has objected to some of the information prosecutors have revealed, including a transcript and recording of a nearly three-hour interrogation of Durst following his arrest in New Orleans in 2015.
One witness Lewin wants to question is a doctor who may have been the last person to speak with Kathleen Durst. No charges have ever been brought in the suspected killing of Durst’s first wife, whose body has not been found.
He may also call witnesses to the killing of Durst’s elderly neighbor in Galveston, Texas, in 2001. Durst was acquitted of murder after testifying that he shot Morris Black in self-defense and then chopped up the body and dumped it in the sea. He was convicted of tampering with evidence and jumping bail.
The prosecutor says Black was killed because he knew the identity of Durst, who had disguised himself in Texas as a mute woman.
Durst, an estranged member of a New York real estate empire, fled to Galveston after learning the investigation into his wife’s disappearance had been reopened in fall 2000, Lewin said.
Berman, who had served as an unofficial spokeswoman for Durst, was killed weeks later in her Los Angeles home before she was supposed to speak with police about that investigation.
Lewin said that with Durst’s estimated $100 million fortune, he poses a serious threat to witnesses.
“The idea that he does not have the wherewithal to intimidate, buy off or attempt to have witnesses killed who possess inculpatory evidence because he is ‘old,’ ‘frail,’ or in custody, is ludicrous,” Lewin said.
Judge Mark Windham tentatively set a Feb. 14 hearing for two witnesses to be questioned if he OKs the prosecutor’s request.
The Associated Press contributed to this article
Execute the miserable ole bastard immediately – he’s not worth the time and cost of appeals associated with a conviction.
Way to prejudice a jury and win a conviction! People that stupidly comment without due process, with prejudice never think of a system in which the prosecution becomes the persecution. They live in a world where their pResident sending the IRS, the FEC, the Just Us Democrats Dept., even OSHA after someone for their political beliefs is just fine as long as it’s the people from the other fascistic side. Who cares about the 4th, 5th, 6th and 8th Amendments when all we have to do is ask you?
LibertarianSoldier – join your “Liberal BS Brethren” you flipping “Moron”.
So, you read a story written from the view point of a prosecutor and without any filurther investigation but into it hook line and sinker and then have the nerve to call an objective opinion, moronic?
There should be a law against talking out of the side of your neck
LiberianSwinger – He’s the Durst of course of all the worst…..some wrong been done he done first ! Durst thing that can happen to him is euthanasia….or become a dumb Youth from Asia !
Amen
And another Amen to that
AGREE, I’M TIRED OF HOUSING AND FEEDING HIM!!!
Does this guy know the Clinton’s??
Electrocute that terrible waste
Of good skin !!! Save the taxpayersame money.
Give his millions to every states
Food Bank……
Amen
Gee i wonder if he is related to the KKKlintons by any chance??????????????????????????????????????
It’s against the law not to play the money game. The best thing would be to freeze his assist so he couldn’t fund anything or anyone.
God WILL deal with him… In Due Time ! And God is a Fair Judge that will Judge All ! He WILL NOT BE BOUGHT ! God Bless the USA !
Look at the history of the Clinton’s. How are mthey not in prison?
What the hell do the Clintons have to do with the Durst case?
CJ . So we pick which one to put in prison All bad ones should go to jail. Just because you think your better give you no right not to be prosecuted.
SUICIDES
Good point how come evil Hillary Clinton not in jail?
She should be behind bars and with no pardon
Always wondered about that myself.
THIS IS ALL BOGUS, THE LIES ON BOTH SIDES, FROM THE PHOTO AND THE MANS AGE, HE MAY HAVE KILLED SOMEONE, BUT THEY MUST HAVE BEEN AS WEAK AN FRAIL AS HE IS. AN THE DA IS WORRIED THAT DURST WILL KILL HIM, GET A LIFE. HOW DO YOU EVER EXPECT ANYBODY WITH AVERAGE INTELLIGENCE TO BELIEVE ALL THIS CRAP. AND JUST AVERAGE, NOTHING THAT WOULD PUT THEM ON MENSA,S LIST. ITS A STORY DESIGNED TO SELL NEWS PAPERS, AN THAT IS ALL.
All durst has to do is get visiting hour then sent other person to kill who ever straight from jail so easy I gather you know nothing about how jail system works he got the money to hire anyone to do his dirty work.
Even from the Whitehouse.
AFTER READING THAT THEY DONT EVEN HAVE HIS FIRST WIFES BODY, NOR PROOF THAT THAT HE KILLED HIS NEIGHBOR, AS FAR AS ADMITTING HE DID KILL HIS NEIGHBOR, IM SURE THAT THE COPS QUESTIONED HIM IN A SO CALLED INTERVIEW FOR 3 DAYS WITH NO SLEEP, AND GOT HIM, A 70 PLUS YEAR OLD MAN TO ADMIT TO ANYTHING.
TAKE THIS AND FILE IT IN A WITCH HUNT CATAGORY!. GO PLANT SUM DOPE IN HIS CELL SO YOU CAN KEEP HIM OFF THE STREETS!
Hogranch is a buddy buddy to Durst, why would he repost more than once?
HEY MIKE WE ARE THE BEST OF FRIENDS, THIS GUY HAS BEEN ON TV NOW HE IS HERE ON THE HORN, THE LAW HAS BEEN FOOLIN AROUND WITH HIM FOR YEARS. EITHER S–T OR GET OFF THE POT. HOW LONG ARE THEY GONNA WASTE THE TAX PAYERS MONEY FOOLIN AROUND WITH A 70 PLUS YR. OL MAN, IF YOU WANT TO SPEND THAT KINDA MONEY, GO AFTER THE 4 GUYS THAT TORTURED THE MENTALLY CHALLENGED MAN THAT THEY TORTURED FOR A DAY OR TWO. DURST WILL DIE OF NATURAL CAUSES SOON ENOUGH, THIS IS LIKE CUTTIN THE TOE NAILS ON A DEAD MAN!
The bad never die young! and 70 is still young.
Hes on his way out and its a good possiblty he could be that mean hateful to the core. Let him stay in prison and rot cause the Good Lord up above will make him pay for all the heartachrs he pulled during his freedom . Who cares hes in prison why waste any more time on him .
Some Lawyers & Judges are making a killing by keeping this pot of slime seatheing. It could be easily solved by freezing his finances and putting him in isolation someplace until time for the trial, or whatever is next on their agenda. The justice system spends too much money chasing rabbit trails instead of getting to the foundation of guilt or innocence. I have no idea whether he is guilty or innocent, and I probably won’t know until he dies of natural causes. At that time, they have “Milked The Cow” for all it is worth.
DAWG YOU GOT IT! THESE AMBULANCE CHASIN SLICK LAWYERS ARE LOOKIN AT DURST LIKE A HOG LOOKS AT A TROUGH FULL OF SLOP, THEY MAY EVEN SQUEAL A BIT.
It won’t be durst it will be a person who he has paid. The Defense lawyers need to get a grip with this kind of personality.