'Survivor' Producer Bruce Beresford-Redman Charged With Murder
Mexico attorney general issues warrant in death of Monica Beresford-Redman.
May 31, 2010— -- An arrest warrant for murder was issued today for "Survivor" producer Bruce Beresford-Redman who has been linked to the death of his wife in Cancun nearly two months ago.
Francisco Alor, the state attorney general in Quintana Roo state, confirmed that a warrant had been released by a Mexican judge today for the arrest of producer Beresford-Redman.
He said prosecutors would begin extradition proceedings to bring Beresford-Redman back to Mexico from the United States.
Beresford-Redman has been living in Southern California, where he has been living since he slipped out of Mexico more than a week ago despite having been forced to hand over his passport to authorities there.
"Once it is officially determined that he is outside of the country, we will find where he is and ask for international collaboration," Alor said.
Beresford-Redman's lawyer, Richard Hirsch, said that because of the speed with which the warrant was issued, "it appears that this case is being handled in a manner outside the normal procedures in Mexico."
"It is our understanding that the issuance of an arrest warrant normally entails a detailed judicial review that takes anywhere from several weeks to several months," Hirsch said in a statement released late today. "It appears that the way this matter is being handled constitutes a rush to judgment."
He said Beresford-Redman is innocent is prepared to defend himself in court.
Hirsch also released a statement from Beresford-Redman in which the producer professed his love for his wife Monica.
"I am devastated at her loss; and I am incensed at the suggestion that I could have had anything to do with her death," he said in the statement. "I am innocent. My children have had one parent taken from them by a senseless act of violence. I implore the Mexican authorities not to take their remaining parent by a miscarriage of justice and to do what is right not just what is expedient."
Hirsch has said he would fight extradition if his client is charged.
Last week on "Good Morning America," Hirsch suggested Mexican authorities look into other violent incidents that have occurred at the same resort, including a Scottish woman who was found dead last year.
"We hope that the attorney general is not just trying to clear this case off his desk or in any case trying to protect the tourist industry of Cancun," Hirsch said.
Monica Beresford-Redman's body was discovered in a hotel sewer in Cancun, Mexico on April 8. She had apparently been beaten and strangled.
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