LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nick Reiner is set to be arraigned and enter a plea Wednesday in the killing of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner.
The scheduled appearance in a Los Angeles Superior Court comes 3 1/2 weeks after the beloved actor-director and his wife of 36 years were found dead with stab wounds in their home in the upscale Brentwood section of Los Angeles, authorities said.
Nick Reiner, 32, the youngest of Rob Reiner’s four children, was arrested hours later, and has been held without bail since. He was charged two days later with two counts of first-degree murder. He did not enter a plea during a brief first court appearance on December 17, when he wore shackles and a suicide prevention smock.
His attorney, Alan Jackson, has given no indication of plans for a defense. If Nick Reiner pleads not guilty, the case would typically proceed to a preliminary hearing to ascertain whether sufficient evidence exists to proceed to trial, taking into account his mental health status, which could play a significant role.
A decade ago, Nick Reiner publicly discussed his severe struggles with addiction and mental health after making a movie with his father, 'Being Charlie,' that loosely reflected their lives. The LA County Medical Examiner stated the Reiners died from 'multiple sharp force injuries', but offered no further details.
Jackson, known for representing high-profile clients like Harvey Weinstein, referred to the case as a 'devastating tragedy'. He called for careful consideration of the circumstances without jumping to conclusions.
The charges against Reiner include special circumstances for multiple murders and an allegation of using a dangerous weapon, which could lead to a heightened sentence; however, prosecutors have yet to decide on pursuing the death penalty.
Rob Reiner, 78, known for iconic films such as 'Stand By Me', 'A Few Good Men', and 'When Harry Met Sally', was a prolific director whose work left a lasting mark on cinema, while Michele, 70, was a beloved photographer.
The scheduled appearance in a Los Angeles Superior Court comes 3 1/2 weeks after the beloved actor-director and his wife of 36 years were found dead with stab wounds in their home in the upscale Brentwood section of Los Angeles, authorities said.
Nick Reiner, 32, the youngest of Rob Reiner’s four children, was arrested hours later, and has been held without bail since. He was charged two days later with two counts of first-degree murder. He did not enter a plea during a brief first court appearance on December 17, when he wore shackles and a suicide prevention smock.
His attorney, Alan Jackson, has given no indication of plans for a defense. If Nick Reiner pleads not guilty, the case would typically proceed to a preliminary hearing to ascertain whether sufficient evidence exists to proceed to trial, taking into account his mental health status, which could play a significant role.
A decade ago, Nick Reiner publicly discussed his severe struggles with addiction and mental health after making a movie with his father, 'Being Charlie,' that loosely reflected their lives. The LA County Medical Examiner stated the Reiners died from 'multiple sharp force injuries', but offered no further details.
Jackson, known for representing high-profile clients like Harvey Weinstein, referred to the case as a 'devastating tragedy'. He called for careful consideration of the circumstances without jumping to conclusions.
The charges against Reiner include special circumstances for multiple murders and an allegation of using a dangerous weapon, which could lead to a heightened sentence; however, prosecutors have yet to decide on pursuing the death penalty.
Rob Reiner, 78, known for iconic films such as 'Stand By Me', 'A Few Good Men', and 'When Harry Met Sally', was a prolific director whose work left a lasting mark on cinema, while Michele, 70, was a beloved photographer.
