The son of US film director Rob Reiner pleaded not responsible to the deadly stabbing of each of his mother and father when he appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom on Monday.
Nick Reiner faces two counts of first-degree homicide over the double killing that despatched shockwaves by way of Hollywood days earlier than Christmas.
The 32-year-old was arrested on December 14 after the our bodies of his filmmaker father and his mom, photographer Michele Singer Reiner, had been found at their dwelling within the upmarket Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Historical past of habit
Prosecutors mentioned 79-year-old Rob Reiner – who helmed large hits together with “When Harry Met Sally” and “A Few Good Males” – and his spouse, 70, had been stabbed to loss of life.
Nick Reiner, who has a historical past of habit, appeared in a downtown courtroom the place he was formally instructed what expenses he faces and had his rights defined.
A plea of “not responsible” is widespread at this stage, no matter what the defence later does.
Reiner, who stays in jail and has not been granted bail, was ordered to return to courtroom on April 29.
An arraignment would often happen a lot sooner, however Reiner was unable to seem on the first scheduled try.
One other listening to final month was halted after the courtroom heard that lawyer Alan Jackson was now not representing Reiner.
The decide appointed an lawyer from the general public defender’s workplace in his stead.
Religion within the authorized system
Jackson, a high-profile lawyer who has beforehand represented Hollywood purchasers together with Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey, instructed reporters he was “legally and ethically” barred from explaining why he had stepped again.
“Circumstances past our management, however extra importantly, circumstances past Nick’s management have dictated that, sadly, it’s made it unattainable for us to proceed our illustration of Nick,” he mentioned.
Jackson mentioned he and his workforce remained dedicated to Reiner’s finest pursuits and had religion that the authorized course of would “reveal the true information of the circumstances surrounding this case.”
“We’ve investigated this matter high to backside, again to entrance. What we’ve discovered – and you’ll take this to the financial institution – is that pursuant to the legal guidelines of this state, pursuant to the regulation in California, Nick Reiner just isn’t responsible of homicide.”
If convicted as charged, Reiner might face life in jail with out parole, or the loss of life penalty, though California doesn’t routinely perform capital punishment.
Erratic habits
Reiner, who lived in a visitor home on his mother and father’ property, had attended a celebration on the dwelling of comic Conan O’Brien on December 13 together with his mother and father, the place some attendees reportedly spoke of his behaving erratically.
The New York Instances, citing a supply near the household, mentioned the couple had been resulting from dine with former president Barack Obama and his spouse Michelle on Sunday night, and had seemingly booked an in-home therapeutic massage for that day.
The paper mentioned that when nobody answered the door for the appointment, the therapist contacted the couple’s daughter, Romy Reiner.
When she arrived with a pal, she found her father’s physique, and emergency companies had been referred to as. Paramedics instructed her that her mom’s physique was additionally on the property.
Arrested the identical night time
Police arrested Nick Reiner a number of miles away from the scene of the crime later that night time.
Rob Reiner, the son of legendary comic Carl Reiner, began his showbiz profession in performing.
He gained fame because the oafish son-in-law Michael “Meathead” Stivic on groundbreaking Seventies sitcom “All within the Household,” earlier than transitioning to directing.
As a director, he struck Hollywood gold.
His output included traditional movies like 1984’s rock music mockumentary “That is Spinal Faucet,” fantasy gem “The Princess Bride” from 1987, and seminal coming-of-age film “Stand By Me.”
“A Few Good Males,” starring Hollywood heavyweights Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson, earned an Oscar nomination for Finest Image.
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
