What a crazy family.
Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful.
We only have Robert's words for that it actually happened - everyone else denies it.
shareI had wondered if it was to convince the mum to not jump
shareParanoja
It's hard to believe that Robert Durst father made his son watch his mother death because Robert Durst is a pathological liar.
Even his brother (Douglas Durst) says that Robert is lying like Paranoja stated above in his reply and I'm sure Douglas Durst is telling the truth.
Source: http://www.politico.com/media/story/2015/01/durst-says-brother-lies-about-mothers-death-in-hbo-show-003396
According to the newspaper article shown in the documentary, "police and firemen with ladders" were trying to reach Durst's mother on the roof. Surely this would have left an impression on a seven year old?
I think it's more likely that Durst is telling himself a story. Over the years, it is sometimes difficult to determine if you actually remember seeing something as a child, or if it is a memory of something you told yourself, in your imagination.