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Robert Durst lawyers argue FBI hotel room search and arrest were illegal Robert Durst held without bond as lawyers argue FBI search was illegal
(35 minutes later)
Millionaire and accused murderer Robert Durst was in a New Orleans courtroom on Monday morning as his team of lawyers argued that a search of his hotel room and subsequent arrest a week ago by FBI agents were illegal. A Louisiana judge declared Robert Durst a substantial flight risk on Monday, ordering that the millionaire be held without bond to face a weapons charge in New Orleans before being extradited to Los Angeles on a murder charge related to the 2000 death of a longtime friend.
A judge on Monday was hearing a challenge to a weapons charge stemming from that search, and whether Durst is a flight risk, as his attorneys seek to expedite Durst’s extradition to Los Angeles to face murder charge in the 2000 death of his friend Susan Berman, while simultaneously challenging the basis for his arrest on that charge. Magistrate Harry Cantrell set a 2 April preliminary hearing for the weapons case.
Durst, 71, was in the New Orleans courtroom on Monday morning as his team of lawyers argued that a search of his hotel room and subsequent arrest a week ago by FBI agents was illegal.
Related: What is Robert Durst still hiding?Related: What is Robert Durst still hiding?
Durst, 71, has been the subject of the HBO documentary The Jinx, which aired its explosive finale on 15 March, in which Durst can be heard appearing to confess to Berman’s murder. Durst, 71, has been the subject of the HBO documentary The Jinx, which aired its explosive finale on 15 March, in which Durst can be heard appearing to confess to the murder of his friend, Susan Berman.
FBI agents, at the request of the Los Angeles police department, had gone to the JW Marriott hotel on Canal Street the night before, on 14 March, to arrest Durst in connection with Berman’s murder.FBI agents, at the request of the Los Angeles police department, had gone to the JW Marriott hotel on Canal Street the night before, on 14 March, to arrest Durst in connection with Berman’s murder.
On Monday, the attorney for the state of Louisiana said the FBI spotted Durst in the lobby of the hotel and asked for his identification. When Durst was unable to provide it, the agents escorted him to his room and began an inventory of items, eventually finding a gun and several bags of marijuana. He was also found with $44,000 in cash, and a UPS tracking number for a package that contained an additional $117,000 in cash.On Monday, the attorney for the state of Louisiana said the FBI spotted Durst in the lobby of the hotel and asked for his identification. When Durst was unable to provide it, the agents escorted him to his room and began an inventory of items, eventually finding a gun and several bags of marijuana. He was also found with $44,000 in cash, and a UPS tracking number for a package that contained an additional $117,000 in cash.
The FBI has said it arrested Durst on the fear that he was a flight risk; he was officially charged with murder the next day.The FBI has said it arrested Durst on the fear that he was a flight risk; he was officially charged with murder the next day.
Speaking in front of Louisiana magistrate judge Harry Cantrell on Monday, Durst’s attorneys admitted he is a flight risk.Speaking in front of Louisiana magistrate judge Harry Cantrell on Monday, Durst’s attorneys admitted he is a flight risk.
“I cannot in good conscience say to the court that the could should or would grant bail given the history of this case and the history of Mr Durst,” Dick DeGuerin, Durst’s head lawyer, said. “I cannot in good conscience say to the court that the court could, should or would grant bail given the history of this case and the history of Mr Durst,” Dick DeGuerin, Durst’s head lawyer, said.
But, DeGuerin argued, the “inventory” of the hotel room which led to the weapons charges Durst now faces in Louisiana was an unlawful search, as it occurred before the state produced a warrant. That didn’t happen until early the next morning.But, DeGuerin argued, the “inventory” of the hotel room which led to the weapons charges Durst now faces in Louisiana was an unlawful search, as it occurred before the state produced a warrant. That didn’t happen until early the next morning.
It remains unclear why Louisiana is trying to keep Durst in the state on lesser charges, given the fact that if he is extradited to Los Angeles, he faces a charge of first degree murder. It remains unclear why Louisiana is trying to keep Durst in the state on lesser charges, given that if he is extradited to Los Angeles, he faces a charge of first-degree murder.
There has long been speculation about Durst’s involvement in the murder or disappearance of at least three people. But it wasn’t until 14 March that Durst was charged with murder in California in connection with the murder of Berman in 2000. Berman was one of Durst’s best friends and became his spokesman after investigators began examining Durst’s connection to the 1982 disappearance of his first wife, Kathleen. There has long been speculation about Durst’s involvement in the murder or disappearance of at least three people. But it wasn’t until 14 March that Durst was charged in California in connection with the murder of Berman in 2000. Berman was one of Durst’s best friends and became his spokeswoman after investigators began examining Durst’s connection to the 1982 disappearance of his first wife, Kathleen.
Durst’s court cases have for decades sparked media spectacle, but came to a high point this year as HBO aired The Jinx, a six-part documentary series on Durst. In the final episode, Durst is interviewed by director Andrew Jarecki, and after leaving the interview can be heard muttering – to himself, in a bathroom into a still-live microphone – what some say amounts to a confession to the murders of his wife, Berman and a 71-year-old man who was Durst’s neighbor in Galveston, Texas, in 2001.Durst’s court cases have for decades sparked media spectacle, but came to a high point this year as HBO aired The Jinx, a six-part documentary series on Durst. In the final episode, Durst is interviewed by director Andrew Jarecki, and after leaving the interview can be heard muttering – to himself, in a bathroom into a still-live microphone – what some say amounts to a confession to the murders of his wife, Berman and a 71-year-old man who was Durst’s neighbor in Galveston, Texas, in 2001.
“What a disaster,” he said. “What the hell did I do? Killed them all, of course.”“What a disaster,” he said. “What the hell did I do? Killed them all, of course.”
Durst had waived his right to contest his extradition to California to face charges there, but his departure has been delayed as New Orleans authorities pursue their own, lesser charges against Durst. Police found a revolver when he was detained in downtown New Orleans last week, and he now faces an illegal weapons charge there.Durst had waived his right to contest his extradition to California to face charges there, but his departure has been delayed as New Orleans authorities pursue their own, lesser charges against Durst. Police found a revolver when he was detained in downtown New Orleans last week, and he now faces an illegal weapons charge there.
Related: Does the critical reaction to The Jinx make you uncomfortable? | Erin McCannRelated: Does the critical reaction to The Jinx make you uncomfortable? | Erin McCann
Durst’s lawyers argued last week that he was illegally arrested. DeGuerin said at a press conference that his client’s arrest was “not based on facts. It’s based on ratings”. Durst’s lawyers argued last week that he was illegally arrested. DeGuerin said at a press conference that his client’s arrest was “not based on facts. It’s based on ratings.”
While Los Angeles police department officials have said that Durst’s arrest had nothing to do with The Jinx, it’s unclear what new evidence, if any, has been made available to law enforcement authorities. That has led some to speculate that The Jinx’s producers had delayed showing Durst’s alleged confession to authorities until right before the series finale.While Los Angeles police department officials have said that Durst’s arrest had nothing to do with The Jinx, it’s unclear what new evidence, if any, has been made available to law enforcement authorities. That has led some to speculate that The Jinx’s producers had delayed showing Durst’s alleged confession to authorities until right before the series finale.
There has also been speculation that Jarecki delayed turning in an envelope with Durst’s handwriting, found in the process of filming The Jinx, that seems to match handwriting from a note written by Berman’s killer. Jarecki last week canceled a series of press interviews, saying it wasn’t appropriate to speak to media as they may be called to testify in court.There has also been speculation that Jarecki delayed turning in an envelope with Durst’s handwriting, found in the process of filming The Jinx, that seems to match handwriting from a note written by Berman’s killer. Jarecki last week canceled a series of press interviews, saying it wasn’t appropriate to speak to media as they may be called to testify in court.
It is also unclear how strong a case prosecutors have against Durst. Experts have said Durst’s team of lawyers could argue that Durst’s supposed confession was a joke, or a “reckless statement”.It is also unclear how strong a case prosecutors have against Durst. Experts have said Durst’s team of lawyers could argue that Durst’s supposed confession was a joke, or a “reckless statement”.
If Durst is indeed tried on weapons charges here, and convicted, he could have to serve a full sentence in Louisiana prison before facing extradition to California. Before appearing in court on Monday, Durst was held in a special medical prison 70 miles from New Orleans, over fears that he may kill himself.If Durst is indeed tried on weapons charges here, and convicted, he could have to serve a full sentence in Louisiana prison before facing extradition to California. Before appearing in court on Monday, Durst was held in a special medical prison 70 miles from New Orleans, over fears that he may kill himself.