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Robert Durst Backtracks On 'Accidentally Confessing To Killings' In Documentary

Robert Durst Backtracks On 'Accidentally Confessing To Killings' In Documentary

The real estate heir, who is on trial, said he regretted appearing in The Jinx

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers

Robert Durst has claimed that he accidentally admitted to murdering a number of people in a true-crime documentary.

The 78-year-old took to the stand this week during his trial, where he is accused of having murdered his friend Susan Berman at her home in 2000.

And during his cross-examination, the real estate heir said he regretted taking part in the hit 2015 doc The Jinx.

During a scene in the sixth episode of the series, Durst seemingly admits to being responsible for the murders of a number of people close to him, including Berman, his first wife Kathleen McCormack back in 1982, and his neighbour Morris Black in 2001.

PA

Unaware that his microphone was still on at the time, Durst can be heard talking to himself in the toilet.

He says: "What the hell did I do? Killed them all, of course."

However, during his trial this week, he claimed that he misspoke and that the whole picture wasn't clear from the recording.

According to reports, he told the court in Los Angeles: "What I did not say out loud-or perhaps I said very softly-is they'll all think I killed them all, of course."

Durst, who is part of a prominent New York real estate family, was formally charged in Los Angeles County Superior Court with allegedly killing Berman, a long-time confidante, at her Beverly Hills home.

PA

Prosecutors also argue that Durst killed Berman in order to cover up the murder of his wife, Kathleen, who disappeared 40 years ago in New York.

They also believe Durst murdered his neighbour, Black, because he had discovered that Durst was hiding out there after New York authorities opened an investigation into his wife's disappearance.

However, a jury in Texas acquitted Durst of murder after he testified that he killed Black in self-defence.

During his current trial, Durst admitted that he was responsible for the 'cadaver letter' LA police received at the time of Berman's death.

Over the years, he has denied that he had anything to do with it.

He told the court this week that he visited Berman's home and found her body, but panicked and left, calling the police from a payphone.

PA

However, he claims he panicked and decided instead to write a note - a scrap of paper that contained only Berman's address and the word 'cadaver' - and sent it to the police.

Durst told the court: "It's a very difficult thing to believe. I mean, I have difficulty believing it myself, that I would write the letter if I had not killed Susan Berman."

Durst told the court that while he didn't murder his friend, if he had done, he wouldn't admit to it.

Deputy District Attorney John Lewina asked Durst if he would lie under oath to help his own case.

To which he replied: "Yes."

When the prosecutor asked if he would admit it if he had killed Berman, Durst said: "No."

He added: "I did not kill Susan Berman. But if I had, I would lie about it."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: True Crime, US News, Documentary, Los Angeles