NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – Troubled real estate heir and millionaire Robert Durst is staying in New Orleans — at least until Monday.
Tuesday’s hearing in Orleans Parish Criminal Court lasted maybe 10 minutes. Chief Magistrate Mark Burton asked the judge if Durst could remain detained for five more days, until a hearing on Monday, because probable cause had been established, and they wanted to push forward with gun and drug charges against Durst.
Burton said Durst was arrested in New Orleans at the J.W. Marriott on Canal Street Saturday night on a warrant from California for the first-degree murder of his friend Susan Berman, back in 2000.
Investigators also found .38 caliber handgun and nearly 150 grams of marijuana in Durst’s room. He now faces charges for a possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and illegal carrying of weapon with controlled dangerous substance.
Durst’s lawyer, Dick DeGuerin, told the judge the warrant out of California was “based on a TV show, not on actual facts” and they want to get the hearing done “as soon as possible, so he can go to California.”
The judge originally suggested doing the hearing on Friday, but the Chief of Magistrate urged the judge to stick with Monday, since he needs to get “documents from other jurisdictions” and “it will take time.” The judge agreed to have the hearing on Monday.
The show that DeGuerin was referring to is what got Durst back in the spotlight. He recently finished filming a documentary with HBO, that delved into his past, specifically on the disappearance of his wife in 1982, the suspicious murder of his friend Susan Berman in 2000 (which happened right before investigators wanted to interview Berman about Durst’s missing wife) and the killing and dismemberment of Morris Black (that Durst was later acquitted of). At some point in the show, Durst reportedly said, “I killed them all, of course.”
Durst appeared in Magistrate Court in an orange prison jumpsuit and shackles. He appeared to be disoriented and did not immediately respond when his case was called.