42.6 F
New York
Friday, March 29, 2024

Robert Durst’s Defense Attacks Credibility of Prosecution Witness’ Testimony

Related Articles

-Advertisement-

Must read

Robert Durst of the wealthy New York City real estate family is on trial for allegedly killing his old friend.

On Friday, February 17, in the court proceedings against Robert Durst, heir to a New York City real estate empire, his lawyer attacked the prosecution witness’ credibility. The witness had given a testimony that was very damaging for the alleged killer.

Defense attorney Dick DeGuerin spent several hours cross-examining the advertising executive Nick Chavin, and suggesting that he lied. To cast doubt on the sworn statements delivered by Chavin, the lawyer played a lengthy tape recording for the court, and argued with the witness about the difference between lying and not telling the truth.

On the stand, Chavin said with seeming sarcasm, “I’m a professional liar. I’m in advertising.”

NBC News reports, “The stakes are high, especially if a judge allows a jury to hear what Chavin, a longtime friend of Durst, had to say on the witness stand earlier in the week during the pretrial hearing. On Thursday, Chavin dropped a bombshell, testifying that after Kathie went missing in 1982, Berman told him Robert Durst had confessed to killing her. Then Chavin testified that in 2014, Durst made a stunning and incriminating comment directly to him about Berman, who had been murdered years earlier.”

According to Chavin, Durst said, “I had to. It was her or me. I had no choice.”

The 73-year-old “black sheep” of the Durst Family, who have a real estate empire in New York City, starred in an HBO documentary about his life called “The Jinx.” Information that came out during the filming of the show contributed to him now being on trial for the murder of his friend Berman in 2000. Prosecutors say that Durst killed Berman out of fear that she would implicate him in the death of his wife, Kathy.

During a special hearing that was held to obtain testimonies from witnesses who would not be available at trial do to old age or fear of Durst, Chavin was called to the stand by prosecutors.

NBC reports, “With his two armed guards watching, the 72-year-old advertising executive faced an intense cross-examination from defense lawyer DeGuerin, who questioned why he waited so long to reveal the alleged confession and why it took five to 10 conversations with prosecutor John Lewin before he told the full story.”

Chavin said, “I was not ready to talk about it then.” 

DeGuerin asked, “So you were lying?” 

Referring to the circumstances as a “coverup,” Chavin said, “I wouldn’t call it lying.” 

Chavin’s wife had initially reveled information about Durst’s alleged confession to Lewin. However, Chavin told a different story when prosecutors spoke with him directly.

According to the recording of their conversation that was played in court, Chavin said to Lewin, “Maybe she’s lying. I can’t explain it. Her memory is very shaky lately.”

DeGuerin argued back and forth with Chavin over whether or not he had lied to the prosecutor. Chavin insisted, “I just didn’t want to tell the truth.”

DeGuerin probed, “Is there a difference between telling a lie and not telling the truth?” 

Chavin answered, “I think there is.”

“DeGuerin also focused on Chavin’s close personal and business relationship with Douglas Durst, the younger brother of Robert who inherited the mantle of the family business and who has called the defendant ‘a psychopath,’” NBC reports.

A transcript of an interview from April 2015, was presented by defense. In the interview Chavin explained to the prosecutor that for business reasons he needed Douglas Durst to trust him.

In that interview, Chavin said to Lewin, “Douglas is scared to death of Bob and certainly wants to see Bob put away. It could only help me.” 

On April 25, the hearing is scheduled to continue with another four witnesses, one of which will not have their identity revealed until they are on the stand.

By Hannah Hayes

balance of natureDonate

Latest article

- Advertisement -