Batman director's brother on murder charge over killing of businessman in Costa Rica

The brother of the British director of last year’s Batman film The Dark Knight has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

London-born Matthew Nolan, 40, whose younger brother Christopher directed the blockbuster which took more than £300million worldwide, was arrested in Chicago by the FBI last week in connection with a killing in 2005.

Nolan is accused of murdering Florida businessman Robert Cohen in Costa Rica.

According to reports, Nolan and alleged accomplice Douglas Mejia went to Costa Rica to try to reclaim a £5million debt Mr Cohen owed to another businessman.



Nolan is charged with Mr Cohen’s kidnap and murder.



Dark Knight: Christopher Nolan (left) directed Christian Bale as Batman . His younger brother Matthew faces a murder charge



He was being investigated by Chicago Police for an alleged £400,000 cheque fraud scam when they learned the FBI were seeking him for the Costa Rica murder.

Mejia was arrested shortly after the body of Cohen was discovered and convicted of the murder during a 2006 trial in Costa Rica, but Nolan allegedly fled back to the US.



A spokesman for Chicago Police said last night: ‘Matthew Francis Nolan has been arrested on a charge of first-degree murder and is being held without bail. He is now in jail awaiting extradition proceedings against him by Costa Rican authorities.’

Nolan’s brother Christopher, 38, is one of Hollywood’s most successful directors.



The Dark Knight was the highest-grossing film of last year and earned a posthumous Oscar for Heath Ledger as The Joker.

Nolan also directed the cult hit Memento and the earlier Batman film, Batman Begins, in 2005.



He is currently shooting the sci-fi thriller Inception with Leonardo DiCaprio.

A third brother, Jonathan, is an Oscar-nominated screenwriter.

