Producer wants daughter to testify at extradition hearing

Lawyers for Bruce Beresford-Redman say they've uncovered new evidence that proves the reality television producer did not murder his wife in Mexico.


Bruce Beresford-Redman is fighting extradition to Mexico. In a rare move, lawyers are asking for the couple's 6-year-old daughter to take the stand in his extradition hearing next month.

The defense team says the former "Survivor" producer has already been convicted through innuendo, false assertions and inept Mexican investigators.

"Clearly, the integrity of the investigation, the integrity of everything that was going on in this case is questionable," said attorney Richard Hirsch.

Beresford-Redman will face a U.S. federal judge who will decide whether he should be handed to the Mexican courts next month. His attorneys plan to present news reports to show that crime is not uncommon at the resorts, and that Mexican officials corrupted by drug cartels have a motive to cover up criminal activity and blame it on outsiders.

Other evidence they want the judge to consider includes statements from daughter Camila, who was 5 years old at the time of her mother's death. She was in the family's resort hotel room when prosecutors allege there were sounds of a violent fight - perhaps the actual murder.

Attorneys acknowledge that getting the girl on the witness stand is a long-shot, but according to the defense, the girl told her therapist that her parents didn't yell at each other and never hit each other.

Lawyers also say they dispute the blood evidence allegedly found in the hotel room.

"None of it matches Monica Beresford-Redman, and none of it has been matched to Bruce Beresford-Redman," said attorney Vicki Podberesky.

The defense team will argue that the commotion in the hotel room was actually the sound of a family game.

Alison Triessl, attorney for Monica Beresford-Redman, said she doesn't buy their argument.

"It is a pretty disturbing game if people hear a woman screaming for help," she said.

The defense description of evidence is disputed by Monica Beresford-Redman's sisters, who say she had discovered Bruce Beresford-Redman was having an affair.

"In this incident, there is no other person with motive here other than Bruce Beresford-Redman," Triessl said.

The defense is requesting a chance to dispute that in court.

"We hope the judge, when she reads the entire package of materials, will determine that there's insufficient probable cause," Hirsch said.

Hirsch said he is worried about the producer's safety if he is returned to Mexico, saying the jails in Cancun are dangerous and describing the city and surrounding areas as rife with corruption and drug violence.

The extradition hearing is scheduled for July 12, but Beresford-Redman's attorneys are seeking a delay so that his parents can attend the proceedings. They are required to be in a Los Angeles probate court that day for a hearing on the validity of Monica Beresford-Redman's will, which her family has challenged.

By Miriam Hernandez

Source: abc7.com