Hot Docs

Twelve ago in Chatham, Ontario, Mason Jenkins murdered his 20-year-old sister with repeated rifle shots to the head. Overwhelming evidence led to his conviction, but Mason insisted he was innocent. His parents endured community shunning when they steadfastly stood by him. Extraordinary access to original crime scene videotapes and recorded telephone calls, forensic evidence, and interviews with Mason, his parents, and the police detective in charge of the case deliver an airtight case against Mason. At the same time, the compassionate portrayal of his parents’ grief and their overwhelming need to believe in their son constructs a powerful psychological portrait of the family—and results in an astonishing confession. Award-winning director John Kastner admits to being obsessed with the lives of criminals. In Life with Murder, he extends this interest and asks us to empathize with the tragic effects of murder on the families of criminals. - Lynne Fernie

Co-presented with Canadian Journalism Foundation.

Media Coverage

Now Magazine (5-Star Review/Cover Story), National Post (Capsule Review), CityNews (Capsule Review), Blog TO (Capsule Review), NOW Magazine (5-star Review), Eye Weekly (4-star Review), NOW Magazine (Feature), Torontoist (Capsule Review), About.com (Capsule Review)