Robert Durst's estranged brother tells trial his sibling wants to kill him and he was forced to hire security for his court appearance as the real estate heir stands trial for murder of his best friend Susan Berman

The estranged brother of Robert Durst, the real estate heir on trial for his best friend's slaying, reluctantly testified Monday that the two never got along and he feared his oldest sibling would kill him.

'He'd like to murder me,' Douglas Durst bluntly told jurors in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Douglas Durst, chairman of one of New York's largest commercial real estate firms, said he had not seen his brother in 20 years and they had not spoken since 1999. 

He said Robert Durst was angry and bitter over an acrimonious inheritance settlement for tens of millions of dollars that went in Douglas's favor. 

The estranged brother of Robert Durst testified at his trial on Monday. Douglas Durst's said his brother would 'like to murder me'

Douglas Durst, chairman of the Durst Organization that owns some of Manhattan's premier skyscrapers and 2,500 apartments, said he and his brother had fought since they were children.

'He treated me miserably,' Douglas Durst said. 'He would fight with me at every chance. He would embarrass me.'

Robert Durst, as the oldest, was supposed to take over the company and there has reportedly been a lot of bad blood. 

Despite that, Douglas Durst said he was not happy to testify against his brother, and only agreed to appear after being hit with a subpoena. Durst is on trial on charges of fatally shooting Susan Berman in 2000 at her Los Angeles home. 

Douglas Durst said his brother Robert was angry and bitter over an acrimonious inheritance settlement for tens of millions of dollars

'I'm here at my brother's trial and it's not a pleasant experience... there are other places I'd much rather be,' he said.

Douglas Durst told the court how he placed a camera inside his office because someone had been urinating in his wastebasket. He was able to confirm that Robert had been entering his office. 

Prosecutors say Berman provided an alibi for Robert Durst after he killed his first wife, Kathie, in 1982 and that he silenced his friend to keep her from telling police what she knew about the disappearance. Robert Durst has pleaded not guilty.

Kathie Durst had told Douglas Durst she planned to seek a divorce from his brother, he testified.

Robert Durst seen with friend Susan Berman, who he is on trial for allegedly killing

Douglas Durst said his brother told him that she had vanished a couple of days after he put her on a train to New York City from their lakeside house in Westchester County. Robert Durst said that was the last time he saw his wife.

'His tone was very neutral,' Douglas Durst said. 'There was no great anxiety in his tone. It seemed a little strange.'

Kathie Durst has never been found, but she was declared legally dead. Robert Durst has long been considered a suspect in her death but has denied any involvement and has never been charged with a crime related to her disappearance.

During his testimony, Douglas Durst revealed how on May 17, 2008, his security guard saw Robert Durst drive into the driveway of Douglas' home, wearing a ski mask with eye openings. He pulled his gun and approached Robert, who then sped away. 

Douglas explained how he had security and that he and his family were taken away, because  they were in fear. A few days later Robert showed up once again wearing a ski mask. 

Kathie Durst (who disappeared in 1982) pictured with Robert Durst

Douglas also revealed that he had even hired security for Monday's court appearance and that they were in court with him while testifying. 

He said that he is afraid of his brother because Robert had threatened to kill him and that he may have even have means to carry it out.  

Douglas Durst, tan and wearing a crisp white shirt with French cuffs and a gray mask because of COVID-19 restrictions, cut a much different figure than his ailing brother.

A pale Robert Durst, 78, with a shaven head that reveals a massive scar from removing fluid his skull, was seated in a wheelchair and dressed in brown jail scrubs.

Durst, who has bladder cancer and several other illnesses, stood up and addressed the judge to counter a suggestion by Deputy District Attorney John Lewin that he was seeking sympathy from jurors by displaying his urine bag.

Real estate heir Robert Durst is pictured in May after a 14-month recess in his murder trial due to the coronavirus pandemic in Los Angeles County Superior Court in Inglewood, California, 

Durst said his head was shaved because it was the only haircut he could get in jail. He said he wants a doctor to remove a catheter.

'I am not seeking sympathy from the jury,' Durst said in a throaty voice. 'My head is shaved because it is the only kind of hair cut that I am able to get in the jail.'

The real estate heir was the subject of The Jinx, an HBO documentary that ends with Durst seemingly confessing to murder.  

Durst has been in jail since 2015 on charges related to Berman's death, with his trial in her murder resuming in mid-May.

He had admitted to fatally shooting and dismembering his 71-year-old neighbor Morris Black in 2001, but he was acquitted of his murder in 2003 after claiming self defense. 

Robert Durst stands up at his trial for murder of his best friend Susan Berman and tells judge he is not faking his illness or looking for sympathy while holding up his catheter bag

The health of Robert Durst has been a concern throughout his lengthy trial for the execution-style murder of his friend Susan Berman, 55, in 2000. 

On Monday, Durst, 78, stood before the court to outright deny claims by the prosecution that he was faking his ailments in order to generate sympathy from jurors. 

In the past, the trial has been delayed while Durst received treatment for bladder cancer. 

Robert Durst told the judge in his trial he was not faking his illness or looking for sympathy while holding up his urine bag

#RobertDurst - WATCH: "I'm not seeking sympathy from the jury!" He said his head is shaved because that's the only haircut he can get in the jail. He said his chair was not purposely lowered in Galveston. He says he wants the catheter out. @LawCrimeNetwork pic.twitter.com/qs9i45Z3uP

— Cathy Russon (@cathyrusson) June 28, 2021

Appearing in prison scrubs and with a shaved head, Durst denied manipulating jurors.

'I am not seeking sympathy from the jury,' he said in open court on Monday. 'My head is shaved because it is the only kind of hair cut that I am able to get in the jail.'

He also denied deliberately lowering his chair and said he was trying to get doctors to remove his catheter.

'I don't think it is meaningful,' he said.

Deputy District Attorney John Lewin told the court that he changed Durst's urine bag during a break in court proceedings suggesting that he was doing Durst a favor and showing goodwill to him.

Advertisement

Robert Durst stands up at his trial for murder of his best friend Susan Berman and tells judge he is not faking his illness or looking for sympathy while holding up his catheter bag

The health of Robert Durst has been a concern throughout his lengthy trial for the execution-style murder of his friend Susan Berman, 55, in 2000. 

On Monday, Durst, 78, stood before the court to outright deny claims by the prosecution that he was faking his ailments in order to generate sympathy from jurors. 

In the past, the trial has been delayed while Durst received treatment for bladder cancer. 

Robert Durst told the judge in his trial he was not faking his illness or looking for sympathy while holding up his urine bag

#RobertDurst - WATCH: "I'm not seeking sympathy from the jury!" He said his head is shaved because that's the only haircut he can get in the jail. He said his chair was not purposely lowered in Galveston. He says he wants the catheter out. @LawCrimeNetwork pic.twitter.com/qs9i45Z3uP

— Cathy Russon (@cathyrusson) June 28, 2021

#RobertDurst - WATCH: "I'm not seeking sympathy from the jury!" He said his head is shaved because that's the only haircut he can get in the jail. He said his chair was not purposely lowered in Galveston. He says he wants the catheter out. @LawCrimeNetwork pic.twitter.com/qs9i45Z3uP

Appearing in prison scrubs and with a shaved head, Durst denied manipulating jurors.

'I am not seeking sympathy from the jury,' he said in open court on Monday. 'My head is shaved because it is the only kind of hair cut that I am able to get in the jail.'

He also denied deliberately lowering his chair and said he was trying to get doctors to remove his catheter.

'I don't think it is meaningful,' he said.

Deputy District Attorney John Lewin told the court that he changed Durst's urine bag during a break in court proceedings suggesting that he was doing Durst a favor and showing goodwill to him.