Family HandoutThe plot thickens in the case against former Survivor producer and Pimp My Ride creator Bruce Beresford-Redman, who is suspected of killing his wife during a Cancun vacation in April.
Today, a Los Angeles judge ordered a trial to determine who will receive guardianship of the couple's children: his parents or his late wife's sister.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff set a June 17 date to decide custody of Camila, 5, and Alec, 4. In the meantime, Beckloff extended temporary guardianship to Beresford-Redmond's parents, with maternal relatives given visitation rights.
The issue of the children's custody has been a huge source of disagreement, following the discovery of Monica Beresford-Redman's body in a sewer at the resort where the couple was vacationing.
Since then, Bruce has become a main suspect in his late wife's murder case; his passport has been confiscated and he's barred from leaving Mexico; but no charges have been filed.
The fight has focused on the couple's wills. Monica's will stipulates her sister Carla Burgos would care for her children if something happened to her and Bruce; his will states that his parents should be guardians of the children if something happened to him.
"Everybody needs to take a step back and realize the children are the heart of the matter," Beckloff said during the hearing.
The judge's ruling falls on the same day Beresford-Redman's latest show, Shedding for the Wedding, geared towards helping engaged couples drop pounds before their weddings, was picked up by the CW.
Let's hope the kids get some of that money.
_______
Take a look back at 20 years of Scandal in our gallery.