The arraignment of Nick Reiner, who faces two counts of first-degree murder in the killing of his parents Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, was delayed on Wednesday after his attorney asked to be replaced.
Judge Theresa McGonigle agreed to postpone the proceedings until February in response to a request from attorney Alan Jackson to withdraw from the case. The judge assigned a public defender to represent Nick Reiner, who had been expected to be arraigned and enter a plea in a Los Angeles court on Wednesday.
Jackson, a high-profile attorney who has represented Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and Karen Read, said that legal and ethical reasons prevented him from sharing why he had sought removal from the case, but that Nick Reiner was not guilty.
“Circumstances beyond our control and, more importantly, circumstances beyond Nick’s control have dictated that, sadly, it’s made it impossible to continue our representation of Nick,” Jackson said outside the courthouse.
He told reporters that “what we’ve learned, and you can take this to the bank, is that pursuant to the laws of this state, pursuant to the law of California, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder. Print that.”
The 32-year-old has been in custody since last month, hours after the acclaimed director and actor, 78, and his wife Michele, 70, a photographer, were found dead in their Los Angeles home. Authorities allege that Nick Reiner fatally stabbed the couple.
Wednesday’s proceedings marked his first appearance in court in three weeks. In the courtroom, he could be seen behind glass, with his hair shaved and wearing brown jail attire.
The Los Angeles county medical examiner found that Rob and Michele Reiner’s deaths were the result of homicide, caused by “multiple sharp force injuries” and that they died minutes after being attacked. Nick Reiner has been charged with first-degree murder, with a special circumstance of multiple murders, and a special allegation for the use of a dangerous weapon, and is being held without bail.
Nick Reiner has previously struggled with addiction and mental illness, and collaborated with his father on the film Being Charlie, which was reportedly loosely inspired by his own experiences. He had reportedly been prescribed medication used to treat schizophrenia for an unknown period of time before the killings, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Rob Reiner, one of Hollywood’s most celebrated directors, was known for films including This Is Spinal Tap, When Harry Met Sally and The Princess Bride, among others, while Michele Singer Reiner was a producer and photographer, whose work included a portrait of Donald Trump that was used on his book The Art of the Deal. They were also well-known for championing liberal causes.
News of the killings sent shock waves through Hollywood last month and prompted an outpouring of grief from the public and the couple’s friends, including Larry David, Billy Crystal, Albert Brooks, Martin Short and Barack and Michelle Obama.
“Strong and determined, Michele and Rob Reiner devoted a great deal of their lives for the betterment of our fellow citizens … They were a special force together – dynamic, unselfish and inspiring. We were their friends, and we will miss them forever,” friends wrote of the couple.
Nick Reiner’s former attorney, Jackson, had urged the public not to rush to judgment or jump to conclusions and said there are “very complex and serious issues” associated with the “devastating tragedy”. On Wednesday, he said his team had received a call about representing Nick Reiner hours after his arrest.
“For the last three weeks, we have devoted literally every waking hour to protecting Nick and his interests. We’ve investigated this matter top to bottom, back to front,” Jackson said, adding that “the legal process will reveal the true facts”.
Nick Reiner has been held in jail for weeks and was recently taken off suicide watch, according to People. He remains in solitary confinement, where he is frequently monitored, and medical professionals have found he has a “mental disability”, a source told the magazine.
If convicted, he could face the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.
He will appear in court for arraignment on 23 February.
