EXCLUSIVE: Robert Durst’s family demands to preview HBO show
DAVID J. PHILLIP/AP Robert Durst is escorted into a Houston courtroom for a parole revocation hearing in January 2006. Durst was acquitted earlier of murdering his Galveston neighbor. They dread that he wants to kill — their reputations.
The family of Texas multimillionaire and cross-dresser Robert Durst — who was acquitted in the dismemberment of an elderly neighbor almost 15 years ago — have slammed the credibility of the makers of a new HBO documentary and questioned for an early screening of six-part docu-series “Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst,” which debuts Feb. 5.
In a letter addressed to producer Andrew Jarecki and obtained by The News, lawyers cite specific examples of legal fallout that stemmed from the producer’s previous, critically acclaimed work.
“Given your track record of producing credibility-challenged projects, we respectfully request a screening of the full series of your upcoming HBO documentary ‘The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst’ for review prior to its airing so that we are assured our client is properly represented,” wrote Richard D. Emery. He represents Douglas Durst, Robert Durst’s estranged younger brother, who has managed the family’s vast real estate fortunes since 1994.
The new show is largely based on more than 25 hours of interviews with Robert Durst and the family fears the result will be a vicious broadside from the black sheep brother, who has previously vocalized his wish to kill them, sources told The News.
In the letter, copies of which were delivered and emailed Monday to Jarecki and HBO chief Richard Plepler, Emery rips previous works by Jarecki, including Oscar-nominated documentary “Capturing the Friedmans,” “Catfish” and, especially, his 2010 dramatic film based on the Dursts, “All Excellent Things.”
“Your film `All Excellent Things’ was widely criticized for the liberties it took with the truth of the real-life facts on which it was purportedly based,” Emery wrote.
Of “Friedmans,” Emery clarification:
“The veracity of the 2003 documentary, `Capturing the Friedmans,’ continues to be debated to this day by both those who participated in its making and the law enforcement officials caught up in the Friedman investigation.”
AP Robert Durst is central in upcoming HBO docu-series ‘Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst.’ A rep for HBO said, “We’re confident this film will be honest and accurate, and it is not HBO’s do to make copies of our films available to those who request them in advance of their premieres.”
Jarecki could not be reached.
Durst was acquitted in 2002 of the murder of 71-year-ancient Morris Black, whose body parts were found floating in Galveston Bay.
He said he shot Black in self-defense and cut the body up before tossing the pieces into the bay. He was eventually given prison time for evidence tampering and bond jumping, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Additionally, he has long been considered a suspect in his wife’s 1982 disappearance.
Authorities also say he may have been caught up in the 2000 murder of his friend, journalist Susan Berman.
While living in Texas, he started cross-dressing to avoid authorities. Last summer Durst was arrested for
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