Nick Reiner has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder in the killing of his parents, film director Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner. The 32-year-old appeared in a Los Angeles court on Monday, where his new attorney, public defender Kimberly Greene, entered the plea.
Reiner, who has been held without bail since December, was arraigned behind glass in an enclosed custody area, wearing brown jail clothes. A judge had postponed the proceedings last month after his previous lawyer, Alan Jackson, withdrew from the case. Jackson stated at the time that he could not disclose his reasons but maintained that his client was not guilty.
The bodies of Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Reiner, 70, were discovered in their Los Angeles home by their daughter on 14 December. The couple, known for their political activism and Rob's acclaimed career in film and television, died from multiple sharp force injuries, according to the Los Angeles County medical examiner. Their deaths sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry.
Reiner faces a special circumstance of multiple murders and a weapon enhancement. Nathan Hochman, the Los Angeles district attorney, said the case is eligible for the death penalty, but no decision has been made. “We will be looking at all aggravating and mitigating circumstances,” he told reporters after the arraignment.
Court records show Reiner had a long history of addiction and mental illness. He was under a conservatorship in 2020 and had been prescribed medication for schizophrenia, according to reports. Comedian Conan O'Brien, who hosted the couple at a Christmas party the night before the killings, described them as “lovely people” and said he was in shock after their deaths.
Before stepping down, former attorney Alan Jackson urged the public not to rush to judgment. “What we've learned, and you can take this to the bank, is that pursuant to the laws of this state, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder,” he said.
