LOS ANGELES — Jury selection begins this week in the case against New York real estate heir Robert Durst.
Durst is charged with killing a close friend in California, and an infamous murder case in Galveston, Texas could play a key role.
Durst has made headlines around Houston for decades, but an HBO documentary called “The Jinx” brought him national attention.
Durst was born into a wealthy New York City family with some impressive real estate holdings.
In the 80s, his wife disappeared under mysterious circumstances and the case has never been solved. Then in 2000 Durst’s close friend, Susan Berman, was found murdered.
Durst has claimed Berman told him just days earlier that police wanted to question her about the disappearance of his wife. In the wake of Berman’s murder, Durst moved to Galveston.
Just a year later in 2001, he was arrested in the grizzly death of his elderly neighbor, Morris Black.
Durst and his high powered defense team claimed Black had been shot
accidentally and Durst only cut up the body and dumped it in Galveston Bay
because he panicked.
The jury believed the story and Durst served only five years for jumping bail and evidence tampering.
Now as Durst heads to trial for the murder of Susan Berman, a judge is allowing Los Angeles prosecutors to present evidence in the Galveston case during this trial.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin Wednesday.
What other people are reading right now:
- Ryan Newman injuries 'not life-threatening' after Daytona 500 crash
- Taylor Swift’s dad fights with burglar in his St. Pete townhouse
- Polk County K-9 deputy accused of driving drunk on I-4
- Carla Stefaniak's killer sentenced to 16 years in prison
- Unwelcome guest slithers into bedroom in Venice
- 13-month-old Florida boy found dead after nap at daycare died from stomach flu, medical examiner says
