The Latest: Durst friend stonewalled cops about confession
By Associated Press
Feb 17, 2017 2:29 PM CST
FILE - In this Dec. 21, 2016 file photo, real estate heir Robert Durst sits in a courtroom during a hearing in Los Angeles. Before a judge even decides if there's enough evidence to try Durst on an old murder charge, prosecutors plan to start taking testimony. In a rare hearing Tuesday, Feb. 13, two...   (Associated Press)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Latest on pretrial testimony in the Robert Durst murder case (all times local):

1:26 p.m.

A close friend of Robert Durst told prosecutors for months that the real estate heir did not confess any killing to him.

Lawyers for Durst presented transcripts in a Los Angeles courtroom on Friday that showed Nathan Chavin denying that Durst indicated he killed their mutual friend Susan Berman.

Chavin says he waffled for months because of a struggle between loyalties to Durst and Berman.

It took seven months before he told prosecutors Durst told him: "It was her or me. I had no choice."

Defense lawyers suggested Chavin made up the story to curry favor with Durst's brother.

Chavin did business with the New York real estate development empire headed by Douglas Durst.

Chavin says the brothers hate each other and Douglas Durst feared his older brother and wanted him locked up.

___

11:30 a.m.

Real estate heir Robert Durst told a close friend he was stupid to participate in a documentary on his life.

Durst told Nathan Chavin in a recorded jail phone call played Friday in a Los Angeles courtroom that the filmmaker had put him behind bars.

Chavin reminded Durst on the call that he counseled him not to participate in "The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst." The film unearthed new evidence implicating Durst in three killings.

Durst has pleaded not guilty to murder in the 2000 killing of death of Susan Berman in Los Angeles.

Chavin is testifying in a hearing to record testimony from witnesses who are old or fear for their safety in case they're not able to testify at a trial in the Berman case.

See 1 more photo