LOS ANGELES — The son of director Rob Reiner, who is accused of killing his parents in their Los Angeles home last year, pleaded not guilty to two murder counts at an arraignment Monday.
Nick Reiner, 32, was slumped over in a tan jumpsuit with his hair closely shaved during the hearing at a Los Angeles County Superior Court. He sat in a glass box and only spoke to the court to agree to waive his rights to a speedy trial.
He is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the Dec. 14 stabbing deaths of Rob Reiner, a beloved director, and his wife, a photographer and movie producer, Michele Singer Reiner.
Judge Teresa McGonicle entered two pleas of not guilty into the record upon Nick Reiner’s agreement.
The arraignment was set to occur on Jan. 7 but it was delayed after his criminal defense attorney, Alan Jackson, asked to be removed from the case.
Los Angeles County public defender Kimberly Greene then requested that the arraignment be postponed until Monday.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman described the case as being "on track" as he spoke to reporters following the arraignment. Officials are still waiting on a coroner's report, but Hochman noted that the bulk of the discovery has been turned over to the defense counsel.
Prosecutors are considering seeking the death penalty in this case, the district attorney said.
"We have invited defense counsel to present to us — both in writing and orally in a meeting — any arguments that they would like to make in consideration for our going forward or not going forward with the death penalty," Hochman said.
Hochman did not take questions while speaking outside the courthouse.
Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Singer Reiner, 70, were found dead in the primary bedroom of their home in the Brentwood neighborhood around 3:40 p.m. by paramedics who were called to the home, officials have said. Prosecutors said they were killed in the early morning hours.
Nick Reiner was arrested that same day, around 9:15 p.m. in the Exposition Park area of the city, about 15 miles away from his parents’ home. Security video obtained by NBC Los Angeles showed police confronting him as he crossed a street and taking him into custody.
Nick Reiner is charged with two counts of murder with the special circumstance allegation of multiple murders. He also faces a special allegation that he used a dangerous and deadly weapon, a knife. Special allegations and circumstances can increase the potential penalty if convicted.
Jackson, the criminal defense attorney who had been on the case, has not said why he withdrew.
He told Kelly Ripa on her SiriusXM radio show in January that legal standards and ethical obligations prevent him from divulging that, but that "my team, me personally and my team remain completely and utterly committed to Nick’s best interests."
Jackson said after he asked to be removed that Nick Reiner was not guilty.
