First of all I don't believe Peter killed his mother. She was alive when he left with his friend to play in the band. If I remember correctly in the movie his friend picked him up & either saw the mother or heard her say good by. Peter did not hate his mother. The police were just all over him. He had no one with him when they were questioning him. He had no lawyer, no friends or family member with him. They questioned him for hours. He was just a kid. They had no right talking to him with out a lawyer or some one with him. He was scared & upset. He had just found his mothers body. He had no father. In fact he didn't even know who his father was. He was lucky that he had people that cared for him & stood up for him.

A Death in Canaan is an utterly brilliant film based on the real-life murder mystery of teenager Peter Reilly,accused of the brutal murder of his own mother.Paul Clemens stars as the accused young man in question,and the entire cast of this 1978 made -for television film features allstars.Stephanie Powers,Brian Dennehy,and the late Kenneth McMillan lead the way in this outstanding masterpiece.The film takes the viewer on all the twists and turns of the trials,and the ending is perfectly done and intensifies the mystery,which to date remains unsolved.I give this a 10 out of 10 easily.