A judge Thursday extended guardianship of the two young children of Monica Beresford-Redman to the parents of her husband, who's labeled by Mexican authorities as the prime suspect in her slaying in Cancun.
The arrangement will remain in place until a trial on permanent guardianship is held. A trial date was expected to be set on June 17.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff also granted visitation rights to the children's maternal relatives.
The in-laws and the sister of the slain Los Angeles restaurant owner are fighting over who is best qualified to be named guardian of her daughter Camila, 5, and son Alec, 4.
"Everybody needs to take a step back and realize the children are the heart of the matter," Beckloff told both sides during the hour-long hearing.
Referring to the children's therapist, the judge said, "The most important thing for these children is that they have someone to talk to about their grieving."
David Beresford-Redman and his wife, Juanita Beresford-Redman, were named temporary guardians of their grandchildren last month.
Local
Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.
Their son Bruce Beresford-Redman has been ordered by Mexican authorities to stay in that country while the investigation into his wife's death continues.
In a declaration submitted Monday, Carla Burgos Van Bastelaar urged Beckloff to choose her over her sister's in-laws.
"I have always been extremely close to Monica; she was my best friend," Carla Burgos Van Bastelaar said. "We told each other everything. I also have been very close to the children and have a wonderful relationship with them."
She said she wanted to make her other sister, Jeane Burgos, co-guardian of the children and had no intention of keeping the boy and girl away from their paternal grandparents.
"The children need to be around as much family as possible during this difficult time," she said. "If I am appointed guardian, I intend to include David and Juanita in their upbringing, as well, because I think it is important for the children to maintain close ties to all family members."
The children's father, in his will, nominated his parents as guardians of his son and daughter if something were to happen to him.
In her will, Monica stipulated that her sister should become the caretaker of her two children should she become incapacitated.
Kristina C. Royce, lawyer for the paternal grandparents, argued that the father's wishes "should be the tie-breaker."
But the judge said the parties "would have a trial on who will be the guardian of these children."
"I have to give great weight to the nomination of the parents," he said.
The judge said he would allow Monica's family to have two weekly visits with the children, who are in first grade and preschool. The visits cannot be overnights.
"This order allows them to maintain a relationship" with the children's maternal aunts, Beckloff said.
Beckloff also stated that the children's nanny, Maria-Beatrice Oaxaca, should remain with them since she "has been a constant" in their lives.
As for the children's therapist, the judge said both sides should have a meeting regarding the current therapist since there was some question about the person's qualifications, Beckloff said any therapist dealing with the matter should be extremely experienced.
Monica Beresford-Redman, a native of Brazil who ran a Brazilian restaurant in West Los Angeles, was found dumped in a septic tank at Hotel Moon Palace in Cancun on April 8.
Her husband, formerly a producer of the television show "Survivor," was questioned about his wife's apparent strangulation death, but has not been charged with any crime.
In his declaration in support of an extension of the temporary guardianship granted him and his wife, David Beresford-Redman said his granddaughter knows her mother died and told a classmate "my mother is dead." But he said he is not as sure that his grandson understands.
"Unlike Camila, I do not believe Alec fully grasps that his mother is dead," he says. "My wife and I respond to his questions as best we can."
The children's grandfather rejected criticisms made at the April court hearing by their nanny. He said she claimed the children were afraid of him and that he and his wife were only with them at parties.
"I categorically reject Ms. Oaxaca's characterization of my relationship with Camila or Alec as negative in any way," his declaration states. "I have never had any problems in my relationship with the children. I believe I have always been an affectionate, caring and thoughtful grandfather towards Camila and Alec and that they have reciprocated those feelings to me."
