A Galveston jury acquitted Durst of murder, even though Durst admitted he chopped up Black's body and dumped it in Galveston Bay. The California prosecutors argued that Durst murdered Black because Black discovered Durst's identity, and Durst feared Black would turn him in. Durst testified from a wheelchair, usually in a jail uniform but also wearing a baggy suit jacket that would have fit properly in his younger, more robust days. Durst is the grandson of Joseph Durst and son of Seymour Durst, who built The Durst Organization into one of New York City's premier real estate companies which has developed some of Manhattan's signature skyscrapers. Robert Durst long ago left the company, now run by his estranged brother Douglas Durst, who testified at trial and said of his sibling: "He'd like to murder me."

Source: Otago Daily Times September 17, 2021 23:03 UTC