The government apparently won a major turf war over New Orleans prosecutors, who just abandoned their case against America’s Sweetheart-alleged-serial-killer Robert Durst involving that gun, latex mask and five ounces of marijuana he was busted with last month.

Although Durst was arrested by federal agents, the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s office filed felony charges in early April—a major roadblock to a speedy extradition to California, where prosecutors hope to try him for the death of Susan Berman.

Two Orleans Parish assistant district attorneys essentially dismissed the case last week in advance of a scheduled hearing, citing “deference to a federal gun case in New Orleans against Durst,” the Times-Picayune reports.

The filing reportedly reserves the right to reinstitute charges within the statute of limitations, but one lawyer apparently told the judge, “The case is now closed, as far as the state charges are concerned.”

Although Durst will still face federal gun charges worth up to ten years in prison, it appears he’s already beat the drug rap—no corresponding federal charges were filed.

[image via AP]

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