New York real estate scion's case will resume at Inglewood courthouse – tentatively, in July
May 22, 2020
New York real estate scion Robert Durst’s murder trial — on hold for more than two months due to the coronavirus pandemic — is being moved to the Inglewood courthouse, a few miles away from the courthouse where jurors initially began hearing the case, a court spokeswoman said.
Jurors are being instructed to plan on returning to court July 27, but that depends on how Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark Windham rules at a hearing set for June 23 on the defense’s motion for a mistrial in the case, according to court spokeswoman Mary Hearn.
In their court filing, Durst’s attorneys contend that a lengthy delay caused by the pandemic has “made it impossible” for Durst to get a fair trial. They wrote that there has been a “prejudicial mid-trial delay” and it is “unrealistic” given the length of the break in the trial to expect jurors to remember the evidence they heard about Susan Berman’s December 2000 shooting death at her home in the Benedict Canyon area of Los Angeles.
[.....]
Moving the trial from the courtroom where it was being heard to a larger one at the Inglewood courthouse will better enable the court to implement social-distancing protocols, according to Hearn.
Prosecutors in Durst’s trial have asked the judge to allow some witnesses to testify through a two-way video conferencing system such as Zoom or Skype to “avoid potential contagion or spread of contagion during air travel” in light of the global pandemic.
[.....]
In a separate motion, prosecutors asked that jurors be allowed to hear the videotaped testimony of the government’s star witness, Nathan “Nick” Chavin, and three other people who live outside of California.
In their court papers, prosecutors wrote that the four are all over 65 years old and are “at higher risk of severe illness or death due to COVID-19” and asked the judge to find that they are unavailable to travel to Southern California to appear before the jury in Durst’s trial.
New York real estate scion's case will resume at Inglewood courthouse – tentatively, in July
May 22, 2020
New York real estate scion Robert Durst’s murder trial — on hold for more than two months due to the coronavirus pandemic — is being moved to the Inglewood courthouse, a few miles away from the courthouse where jurors initially began hearing the case, a court spokeswoman said.
Jurors are being instructed to plan on returning to court July 27, but that depends on how Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark Windham rules at a hearing set for June 23 on the defense’s motion for a mistrial in the case, according to court spokeswoman Mary Hearn.
In their court filing, Durst’s attorneys contend that a lengthy delay caused by the pandemic has “made it impossible” for Durst to get a fair trial. They wrote that there has been a “prejudicial mid-trial delay” and it is “unrealistic” given the length of the break in the trial to expect jurors to remember the evidence they heard about Susan Berman’s December 2000 shooting death at her home in the Benedict Canyon area of Los Angeles.
[.....]
Moving the trial from the courtroom where it was being heard to a larger one at the Inglewood courthouse will better enable the court to implement social-distancing protocols, according to Hearn.
Prosecutors in Durst’s trial have asked the judge to allow some witnesses to testify through a two-way video conferencing system such as Zoom or Skype to “avoid potential contagion or spread of contagion during air travel” in light of the global pandemic.
[.....]
In a separate motion, prosecutors asked that jurors be allowed to hear the videotaped testimony of the government’s star witness, Nathan “Nick” Chavin, and three other people who live outside of California.
In their court papers, prosecutors wrote that the four are all over 65 years old and are “at higher risk of severe illness or death due to COVID-19” and asked the judge to find that they are unavailable to travel to Southern California to appear before the jury in Durst’s trial.
I have a feeling the Judge will declare a mistrial. The whole thing is now too messy which could cause endless appeals down the road. Better to start all over with a new jury and all the other Covid-19 related issues resolved before the first day of trial. JMO.
Tuesday, June 23rd:
*Motion (to dismiss) Hearing (@ 9am PT) – CA – Susan Berman (55) (Dec. 24, 2000, Beverly Hills) – *Robert Alan Durst (57 @ time of crime/75/now 78) arrested (3/14/15) extradited (11/1/16 from Indiana prison to Calif.) & charged with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $4M Bond. Was serving a 7 year federal prison term for illegal possession of a revolver at the time of his New Orleans’ arrest. Trial began on 2/11/20 with pretrial motions & jury selection started on 2/19/20. Trial started on 3/4/20. Jury: 8 women & 4 men. 12 alternates. (Trial expected to last 5 months). Trial stopped 3/16/20 due COVID-19 & will restart on 7/27/20. No court on Fridays. Jury Selection from 2/19/20 thru 3/3/20 (Days 1-8) & Trial Days 1-5 (3/4/20 thru 3/11/20) reference post #166 here: CA - Susan Berman, 55, fatally shot, Los Angeles, 23 Dec 2000 *Arrest* 3/12/20 Thursday, Day 6: State witnesses: Jim McCormack (Kathie Durst's brother). Marion Watlington (Kathie Durst's friend). Virginia McKeon (Kathie Durst's sister). LAPD officer Rashad Sharif (on patrol the day Susan's body found). Court is adjourned until 9 a.m. Monday, 3/16. 3/16/20 Monday Update: Trial has been postponed to April 6 amid concerns across the court system about coronavirus. 3/27/29 Update: Due to the coronavirus the trial date of April 6 has now been rescheduled for 5/26. 4/30/20 Update: Due to COVID19 trial is again rescheduled to 6/23 for a Motions hearing & trial will restart on 7/27/20 (Day 7). 4/30/20 Update: On Thursday, Durst’s defense team filed a motion with the court calling the mid-trial break “prejudicial”, saying the stoppage that will last months even in the best case scenario makes it unrealistic that the jury will be able to perform its functions. 5/25/20 Update: Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark Windham will consider the defense’s mistrial motion in a hearing scheduled for June 23 & is expected to move to the Inglewood courthouse from Los Angeles. Moving the trial from the courtroom where it was being heard to a larger venue at the Inglewood courthouse will better enable the court to implement social-distancing protocols; the stoppage of trial is expected to end with a scheduled resumption of the trial July 27.
June 23, 2020 (CNN) - A Los Angeles Superior Court judge denied a motion for a mistrial Tuesday in the case of Robert Durst, the subject of HBO's "The Jinx" who is accused of murdering his confidante Susan Berman.
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Judge Mark Windham, wearing a black face mask to match his black robe, pointed out the defense, asked for the adjournment in March and said, "The motion for a mistrial is denied."
The trial will resume July 27 in an Inglewood courtroom refurbished to accommodate social distancing requirements.
[.....]
Attorneys have said the trial could last four months and the frail defendant will take the witness stand for at least two weeks.
Friday, July 17th:
*Motion Hearing (@ 9am PT) – CA – Susan Berman (55) (Dec. 24, 2000, Beverly Hills) – *Robert Alan Durst (57 @ time of crime/75/now 78) arrested (3/14/15) extradited (11/1/16 from Indiana prison to Calif.) & charged with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $4M Bond. Was serving a 7 year federal prison term for illegal possession of a revolver at the time of his New Orleans’ arrest. Trial began on 2/11/20 with pretrial motions & jury selection started on 2/19/20. Trial started on 3/4/20. Jury: 8 women & 4 men. 12 alternates. (Trial expected to last 5 months). Trial stopped 3/16/20 due COVID-19 & will restart on 7/27/20. No court on Fridays. Jury Selection from 2/19/20 thru 3/3/20 (Days 1-8) & Trial Days 1-6 (3/4/20 thru 3/12/20) & Court info from 3/16/20 thru 4/30/20 reference post #183 here: CA - Susan Berman, 55, fatally shot, Los Angeles, 23 Dec 2000 *Arrest* 5/25/20 Update: Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark Windham will consider the defense’s mistrial motion in a hearing scheduled for June 23 & is expected to move to the Inglewood courthouse from Los Angeles. Moving the trial from the courtroom where it was being heard to a larger venue at the Inglewood courthouse will better enable the court to implement social-distancing protocols; the stoppage of trial is expected to end with a scheduled resumption of the trial July 27. 6/23/20 Update: Motion to dismiss hearing was held. Judge Windham denies motion to dismiss. Next motions hearing on 7/17/20.
July 17, 2020
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The murder trial of New York real estate heir Robert Durst will not resume in late July as planned, and may stay on hold until April.
At a hearing Friday on the resumption of the case, which was put on pause four months ago because of the coronavirus pandemic, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark Windham said he would tell jurors they would not need to return until April 12, but is considering the possibility of a bench trial in which he and not a jury would decide Durst’s guilt.
Such a trial, which Durst would have to consent to by waiving his right to a jury trial, would resume much sooner, with the crowd concerns brought on by jurors allayed.
Another hearing is scheduled for July 31, giving time for defense attorneys to confer with the 77-year-old Durst, who was did not take part in Friday’s hearing.
[.....]
Durst’s lawyers renewed their call for a mistrial, which Windham declined to grant.
Friday, July 31st:
*Motion Hearing (@ 9am PT) – CA – Susan Berman (55) (Dec. 24, 2000, Beverly Hills) – *Robert Alan Durst (57 @ time of crime/75/now 78) arrested (3/14/15) extradited (11/1/16 from Indiana prison to Calif.) & charged with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $4M Bond. Was serving a 7 year federal prison term for illegal possession of a revolver at the time of his New Orleans’ arrest.
Trial began on 2/11/20 with pretrial motions & jury selection started on 2/19/20. Trial started on 3/4/20. Jury: 8 women & 4 men. 12 alternates. (Trial expected to last 5 months). Trial stopped 3/16/20 due COVID-19 & will restart on 7/27/20 & now will restart on 4/12/21. No court on Fridays. Jury Selection from 2/19/20 thru 3/3/20 (Days 1-8) & Trial Days 1-6 (3/4/20 thru 3/12/20) & Court info from 3/16/20 thru 4/30/20 reference post #183 here: CA - Susan Berman, 55, fatally shot, Los Angeles, 23 Dec 2000 *Arrest* 5/25/20 Update: Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark Windham will consider the defense’s mistrial motion in a hearing scheduled for June 23 & is expected to move to the Inglewood courthouse from Los Angeles. Moving the trial from the courtroom where it was being heard to a larger venue at the Inglewood courthouse will better enable the court to implement social-distancing protocols; the stoppage of trial is expected to end with a scheduled resumption of the trial July 27. 6/23/20 Update: Motion to dismiss hearing was held. Judge Windham denies motion to dismiss. Next motions hearing on 7/17/20. 7/17/20 Update: Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark Windham said he would tell jurors they would not need to return until April 12, but is considering the possibility of a bench trial in which he and not a jury would decide Durst’s guilt. Another hearing is scheduled for July 31, giving time for defense attorneys to confer with the 77-year-old Durst, who was did not take part in Friday’s hearing. Durst’s lawyers renewed their call for a mistrial, which Windham declined to grant.
Court TV is now available on Sky Television Channel 179, with more distribution agreements expected to be announced.
Court TV's on-air team of anchors, legal correspondents and veteran crime and justice journalists – all of whom are lawyers – offer daily insight and analysis, joined by America's brightest attorneys, most experienced investigators and experts who provide legal views, opinion, discussion and debate.
For U.K. audiences, Court TV also is planning content to explain the differences between the two country's systems, including why cameras are allowed in courtrooms in the U.S. but not in the U.K.
Upcoming U.S. trials Court TV plans to cover and air both in the U.S. and the U.K. include:
The Death of George Floyd - Four Minneapolis police officers will be tried in the death of George Floyd, which launched a national movement on race in America.
The Killing of Ahmaud Arbery - Three white men are accused of murder in the death of Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man who was shot while jogging through a south Georgia neighborhood.
The Case of The Doomsday Cult Mom - Lori Vallow and her husband, Chad Daybell, are facing charges after authorities discovered the bodies of their two children in their backyard. Daybell, a former gravedigger, has authored numerous doomsday books and is rumored to have built a cult-type following.
"The Jinx" Murder Trial - Robert Durst, a wealthy New York City real estate heir, faces first-degree murder charges in California as police allege he killed his longtime friend, Susan Berman. Authorities suspect Durst in the 1982 disappearance of his wife, Kathleen McCormack, and investigators believe that Durst, the subject of the HBO documentary "The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst," killed Berman because she knew what happened to McCormack.
The R. Kelly Sex Abuse Case - Entertainer R. Kelly, currently in a federal prison in Chicago, faces numerous racketeering and sex trafficking charges involving five women, with legal problems ignited by the television show "Surviving R. Kelly."
Friday, March 12th:
*Readiness Hearing (@ 8:30am PT) – CA – Susan Berman (55) (Dec. 24, 2000, Beverly Hills) – *Robert Alan Durst (57 @ time of crime/75/now 80) arrested (3/14/15) extradited (11/1/16 from Indiana prison to Calif.) & charged with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $4M Bond. Was serving a 7 year federal prison term for illegal possession of a revolver at the time of his New Orleans’ arrest.
Trial began on 2/11/20 with pretrial motions & jury selection started on 2/19/20. Trial started on 3/4/20. Jury: 8 women & 4 men. 12 alternates. (Trial expected to last 5 months). Trial stopped 3/16/20 due COVID-19 & will restart on 7/27/20 & now will restart on 4/12/21. No court on Fridays. Jury Selection from 2/19/20 thru 3/3/20 (Days 1-8) & Trial Days 1-6 (3/4/20 thru 3/12/20) & Court info from 3/16/20 thru 5/25/20 reference post #191 here: CA - Susan Berman, 55, fatally shot, Los Angeles, 23 Dec 2000 *Arrest* 6/23/20 Update: Motion to dismiss hearing was held. Judge Windham denies motion to dismiss. Next motions hearing on 7/17/20. 7/17/20 Update: Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark Windham said he would tell jurors they would not need to return until April 12, but is considering the possibility of a bench trial in which he and not a jury would decide Durst’s guilt. Another hearing is scheduled for July 31, giving time for defense attorneys to confer with the 77-year-old Durst, who was did not take part in Friday’s hearing. Durst’s lawyers renewed their call for a mistrial, which Windham declined to grant. 7/31/20 Update: Next readiness hearing on 3/12/21.
Cathy Russon
@cathyrusson
·
1h
#RobertDurst - The jail didn't transport Durst this morning.....now they are saying he won't be in court until 10 am PT/1pm ET. Our feed will start then. @LawCrimeNetwork
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