MEXICO: A Cancun court hears key forensic evidence in the murder trial of ex-TV producer Bruce Beresford-Redman. His attorneys say the testimony contradicts prosecutor claims the U.S.-national strangled his

Record ID: 858281

  • Title: MEXICO: A Cancun court hears key forensic evidence in the murder trial of ex-TV producer Bruce Beresford-Redman. His attorneys say the testimony contradicts prosecutor claims the U.S.-national strangled his
  • Date: 15th June 2012
  • Summary: CANCUN, QUINTANA ROOM, MEXICO (JUNE 14, 2012) (REUTERS) DEFENDANT BRUCE BERESFORD-REDMAN ENTERING COURT ROOM BERESFORD TALKING TO TRANSLATOR DEFENCE LAWYER CARLOS GRAJALES TALKING TO FORENSICS EXPERT DURING TRIAL FORENSICS EXPERT DURING TRIAL (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DEFENCE LAWYER, CARLOS GRAJALES, SAYING: "We managed to ratify the version that we have, that the death of Ms. Monica was in a cistern and not where the prosecutors think it happened which is in the (hotel) room. So much so that the doctor asserts that the death was in the cistern so it is not possible that it took place in another area. The question was asked and he reaffirmed and said that there is no sign of violence, so this declaration favours us." DEFENCE LAWYERS DURING HEARING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DEFENCE LAWYER, JAIME CANCINO, SAYING: "The hearings continue which have gone very well for us. I think that our version of events is confirmed, that the case of the prosecutors makes no sense and goes against all evidence presented." MORE OF DEFENCE LAWYERS DURING HEARING VARIOUS OF LAWYERS TALKING TO FORENSICS WITNESS MORE OF BERESFORD WITH TRANSLATOR
  • Embargoed: 30th June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico
  • City:
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics:
  • Reuters ID: LVACHF87N2LPJ7ISAFL9Y0K0HJ29
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  • Story Text: A Cancun court on Thursday (June 14) was presented with autopsy results in the case of former television show producer Bruce Beresford-Redman who is on trial in Mexico for allegedly murdering his wife.
    Beresford-Redman is accused of killing his wife, 41-year-old restaurant owner Monica Burgos, while the couple vacationed with their two children at a Cancun resort in April 2010. Burgos' body was found in a sewer pipe near the resort; prosecutors said that she appeared to have been suffocated by a pillow in her hotel room.
    Defence lawyers for the former TV producer said key forensic evidence presented in court shows the victim died from drowning and exhibited no signs of violence.
    "We managed to ratify the version that we have, that the death of Ms. Monica was in a cistern and not where the prosecutors' think it happened which is in the (hotel) room. So much so that the doctor asserts that the death was in the cistern so it is not possible that it took place in another area. The question was asked and he reaffirmed and said that there is no sign of violence, so this declaration favours us," said lawyer Carlos Grajales.
    Mexican prosecutors allege that Beresford-Redman dumped his wife's body after a violent fight and fled to the United States. He was arrested in Los Angeles in November 2010 and has maintained his innocence.
    Beresford-Redman's defence team told media evidence in the controversial case has helped to discredit the prosecutor's case against their client.
    "The hearings continue which have gone very well for us. I think that our version of events is confirmed that the case of the prosecutors makes no sense and goes against all evidence presented," added lawyer Jaime Cancino.
    If convicted of murder, he faces 40 years to life in jail.
    Beresford-Redman was a co-creator of the MTV show "Pimp My Ride" and a supervising producer of reality TV's "Survivor" from 2003-2004.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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