CatoCooper13
New Member
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2003
- Messages
- 6,441
- Reaction score
- 4
Opening statements start in heir's murder trial
Tuesday, September 23, 2003 Posted: 1424 GMT (10:24 PM HKT)
Robert Durst posed as a mute woman while living in Galveston, Texas.
GALVESTON, Texas (AP) -- Defense attorneys say an eccentric New York real estate heir shot a neighbor during a struggle with a gun that went off accidentally.
"There is absolutely no motive other than self-defense or accident," defense attorney Michael Ramsey said in opening statements of Robert Durst's murder trial Monday.
Prosecutors say Durst committed a "cold, calculated murder," and insist 71-year-old Morris Black never attacked him.
"You're going to hear a lot of different stories about Morris Black," prosecutor Kurt Sis trunk said. "What's not going to change is that Robert Durst knowingly and intentionally murdered him."
Black's torso and severed limbs were found floating in Galveston Bay on September 30, 2001, two days after he was killed. His head was not found.
Durst, who passed himself off as a mute woman, had been living across the hall from Black.
Lead defense attorney Dick DeGuerin acknowledged that Durst had come to Galveston to escape media attention after an investigation was reopened into the unsolved disappearance of Durst's former wife, Kathleen, 21 years ago in New York.
Black and Durst became friends, but DeGuerin said his client grew troubled when his older neighbor attacked people and twice fired Durst's gun inside his apartment.
On the day of the slaying, Durst found Black inside his $300-a-month apartment. Fearing Black had a gun, Durst demanded it and when his neighbor pulled it out, both men wrestled for it, DeGuerin said.
"As they fell, Bob's elbow hit the floor and as Morris hit the floor with a thud, the gun went off," DeGuerin said.
Durst has pleaded innocent.
Ramsey said Durst suffers from an ailment that makes him susceptible to panic and explains why he dismembered Black's body and dumped it.
"Does it change the fact the act was self-defense? No. Was it bizarre, grotesque? Yes. Is it explainable? Yes," he said.
But prosecutors say Durst carefully cut up the body and triple wrapped the remains, purchased a money order to pay for Black's rent so no one would look for him.
"This man wasn't running in panic or fear. He was cool and calm because he thought he had gotten away with murder," Sistrunk said.
After Durst was arrested for Black's slaying, he jumped bond and was a fugitive for six weeks before being arrested again in Pennsylvania on a shoplifting charge in November 2001.
Durst faces from five to 99 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 if convicted.
A gag order has prevented any of the trial participants from discussing the case.
Testimony was expected to continue Tuesday.
Tuesday, September 23, 2003 Posted: 1424 GMT (10:24 PM HKT)
Robert Durst posed as a mute woman while living in Galveston, Texas.
GALVESTON, Texas (AP) -- Defense attorneys say an eccentric New York real estate heir shot a neighbor during a struggle with a gun that went off accidentally.
"There is absolutely no motive other than self-defense or accident," defense attorney Michael Ramsey said in opening statements of Robert Durst's murder trial Monday.
Prosecutors say Durst committed a "cold, calculated murder," and insist 71-year-old Morris Black never attacked him.
"You're going to hear a lot of different stories about Morris Black," prosecutor Kurt Sis trunk said. "What's not going to change is that Robert Durst knowingly and intentionally murdered him."
Black's torso and severed limbs were found floating in Galveston Bay on September 30, 2001, two days after he was killed. His head was not found.
Durst, who passed himself off as a mute woman, had been living across the hall from Black.
Lead defense attorney Dick DeGuerin acknowledged that Durst had come to Galveston to escape media attention after an investigation was reopened into the unsolved disappearance of Durst's former wife, Kathleen, 21 years ago in New York.
Black and Durst became friends, but DeGuerin said his client grew troubled when his older neighbor attacked people and twice fired Durst's gun inside his apartment.
On the day of the slaying, Durst found Black inside his $300-a-month apartment. Fearing Black had a gun, Durst demanded it and when his neighbor pulled it out, both men wrestled for it, DeGuerin said.
"As they fell, Bob's elbow hit the floor and as Morris hit the floor with a thud, the gun went off," DeGuerin said.
Durst has pleaded innocent.
Ramsey said Durst suffers from an ailment that makes him susceptible to panic and explains why he dismembered Black's body and dumped it.
"Does it change the fact the act was self-defense? No. Was it bizarre, grotesque? Yes. Is it explainable? Yes," he said.
But prosecutors say Durst carefully cut up the body and triple wrapped the remains, purchased a money order to pay for Black's rent so no one would look for him.
"This man wasn't running in panic or fear. He was cool and calm because he thought he had gotten away with murder," Sistrunk said.
After Durst was arrested for Black's slaying, he jumped bond and was a fugitive for six weeks before being arrested again in Pennsylvania on a shoplifting charge in November 2001.
Durst faces from five to 99 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 if convicted.
A gag order has prevented any of the trial participants from discussing the case.
Testimony was expected to continue Tuesday.
hes definately sick!!!! if he was able to dismember his neighbor/victim then he would be able to do the same for any future victims that happens to cross his path and with the investigations reopened in NY ref his missing wife and hes found to be guilty in that case then he oughta be locked up and never see the other side of the walls of prison
like other people are in this place :roll: