Nick Reiner Pleads Not Guilty in Rob Reiner Killings
Nick Reiner pleaded not guilty in Los Angeles on Monday to two counts of first-degree murder stemming from the deaths of his parents, filmmaker and actor Rob Reiner and author Michele Singer Reiner. The 32-year-old is accused in the December stabbings at the couple’s home in Brentwood, and he remains in custody as the case moves forward.
In court, Reiner’s public defender entered the plea on his behalf, and CBS News reported that prosecutors have not yet announced whether they will seek the death penalty, with the defendant facing either capital punishment or life without the possibility of parole if convicted.
The case has also seen a major change on the defence side after attorney Mr. Alan Jackson unexpectedly withdrew ahead of a scheduled January arraignment, with Mr. Jackson later citing “circumstances beyond our control” and saying he was legally and ethically unable to elaborate. Los Angeles County District Attorney Mr. Nathan Hochman, meanwhile, publicly expressed confidence that a jury would convict.
The deaths of the 78-year-old director and his 70-year-old wife were ruled homicides, with the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner listing “multiple sharp force injuries” as the cause, and Alternative Nation has previously reported on the legal shake-up after his former lawyer said he believed Reiner was not guilty under California law.
Beyond the courtroom, the case has reverberated through Hollywood because of Rob Reiner’s decades-spanning career, from starring on “All in the Family” to directing films including “This Is Spinal Tap,” “The Princess Bride,” and “When Harry Met Sally.” The next hearings will determine scheduling, potential motions, and whether prosecutors pursue capital punishment.
