Settlement Reached In Beresford-Redman Custody Dispute

A custody dispute concerning the two children of former ``Survivor'' producer Bruce Beresford-Redman was settled Wednesday when the two sisters of the slain mother of the siblings agreed to allow the producer's parents to have permanent guardianship over both.
  
The resolution was signed late this afternoon by the parties as well as Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff, who met with the lawyers privately Tuesday and today after they expressed interest in avoiding a trial.
  
``I want what's best for the kids you all care so much about,'' Beckloff said.
  
The producer's children, Camila, 5, and Alec, 3, were present in the courthouse, but were not brought into the courtroom.
  
``The settlement is in the best interests of the children and on behalf of my clients I'm thrilled that we were able to do something cooperatively,'' said Patricia Phillips, who represents the maternal aunts, Carla Van Bastelaar and Jeane  Burgos. Van Bastelaar also had sought permanent guardianship over Camila and Alec.
  
Phillips said her clients' visitation hours with the children will remain intact pending a report by an evaluator who will make  recommendations to Beckloff regarding future visits.
  
Adrienne R. Hahn, an attorney representing the grandparents, David and Juanita Beresford-Redman, said the accord will keep father and children united. Bruce Beresford-Redman lives with his children and his parents in Rancho Palos
Verdes.
  
''They should be home with their dad,'' Hahn said.
  
The body of Bruce Beresford-Redman's wife, Monica Beresford-Redman, was found in April in a sewer at the Moon Palace Hotel in Cancun, Mexico where the two were vacationing without their children. He returned to the United States before an arrest warrant was issued in Mexico, where he has been charged with his wife's killing.
  
The settlement appeared in jeopardy when Bruce Beresford-Redman objected to a provision the aunts insisted be inserted. It requires him to wait a year from the signing of the agreement before he can ask that the guardianship be terminated and his parental rights restored.
  
The aunts said they are concerned about what could happen with the criminal case against him in Mexico and want to also make sure they maintain their visitation privileges.
  
``It strikes me as punitive,'' Bruce Beresford-Redman said. ``It seems to me I'm being punished for something I can't control.''
  
Beckloff said he did not want to draw any conclusions about the producer's parenting capabilities based on what may have occurred in Mexico.    ``I don't know what happened, I wasn't there,'' Beckloff said. ``I have never pre-judged you about what happened there.''
  
Beckloff said that the aunts will maintain the right to challenge any petition he may make to end the guardianship even if the Mexican case is dropped.
  
``(So) it doesn't mean that if everything is cleared up in Mexico that all these proceedings here will go away,'' Beckloff said.
  
Bruce Beresford-Redman then relented and agreed to the settlement.
  
``All of this is disruptive to the children and I would like to put an end to it as soon as possible,'' he said. ``In that vein, I'll do what's best for my children.''
  
After the producer said he sometimes feels that he is not being allowed to be the father of his boy and girl, Beckloff replied, ``You'll always be the dad.''
  
The visits by the aunts will continue to be monitored by a third party, an issue that arose after the children's grandparents complained that Burgos and Van Bastelaar were making negative comments about Bruce Beresford-Redman.  The role until now was filled by an outside party, but in the future Juanita Beresford-Redman will take on the duty.
  
Another issue between the two sides is the question of which of two wills purporting to represent the intent of Monica Beresford-Redman is valid, a 2004 document submitted by Burgos or another presented by the paternal grandparents and allegedly signed by their daughter-in-law in 2008. Beckloff has delayed hearings on that matter until Jan. 12.