Nick Reiner's arraignment in parents' killings delayed after lawyer asks to be replaced

snick Reiner makes margaret court visual aspect on 2 dispatch counts in his parents' deaths

Nick Reiner appears in court on murder charges in killing of parents

Rob Reiner, wife found dead and their son is in custody

Nick Reiner to be charged with 2 counts of 1st-degree murder

Hollywood legend Rob Reiner dead at 78

Trump stands by social media rant against Rob Reiner

Nick Reiner's arraignment is delayed until February after his attorney, Alan Jackson, has asked to be replaced, both The Associated Press and Reuters are reporting.

The penalties associated with the crime Nick Reiner is accused of means he could theoretically be sentenced to life in prison, or the death penalty.

The death penalty is unlikely in this case. The "special circumstances" in Reiner's charge — that he allegedly committed multiple homicides — make him eligible for capital punishment. But information around Reiner's mental state and recent medication changes could make that harder for prosecutors to pursue.

At the same time, capital punishment in the state is in a sort of limbo. California currently has the most prisoners on death row of any state, though there have been no actual executions there for nearly two decades. Despite Gov. Gavin Newsom's 2019 moratorium, death sentences continue to be handed down, but not carried out.

Nick Reiner appeared behind glass in a custody area of a Los Angeles courtroom, wearing brown jail garb and with his hair shaved. Lawyers then went into the judge's chambers to confer before his case was called.

This arraignment comes after a brief initial court appearance on Dec. 17 that was abruptly cut short when the defence requested a three-week postponement. Nick's lawyer, Alan Jackson, could ask for another postponement today.

A judge approved the use of cameras inside the courtroom this afternoon, but did not allow them to take pictures of the defendant.

Dozens of media members with cameras were gathered outside the downtown courthouse, with dozens more reporters gathered inside waiting for the hearing, according to The Associated Press.

Nick Reiner was the middle child of the couple's three adult children together. (Rob Reiner was also the father of Tracy Reiner, who he had adopted during his marriage to Penny Marshall.)

On the day of Reiner's first court appearance, Nick's older brother, Jake, and younger sister, Romy, released a statement through a family spokesperson.

"Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing every moment of the day," they said. "The horrific and devastating loss of our parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, is something that no one should ever experience. They weren't just our parents; they were our best friends."

The brother and sister said they were "grateful for the outpouring of condolences, kindness, and support we have received not only from family and friends but people from all walks of life."

They also asked for "respect and privacy" and "for speculation to be tempered with compassion and humanity."

Multiple U.S. Outlets have reported that Reiner had been staying at the guest house on his parents' property at the time of the killings.

A particular point of interest ahead of the trial has been Being Charlie, the movie co-written by Nick and directed by Rob. Loosely based on Nick's struggles with substance abuse, the film tells the story of Charlie Mills — an 18-year-old likewise struggling with addiction, resentful of how his famous father deals with it.

After its 2015 TIFF premiere, Rob told the LA Times how many elements were lifted directly from their lives.

"When Nick would tell us that it wasn't working for him, we wouldn't listen," he said. "We were desperate and because the people had diplomas on their wall, we listened to them when we should have been listening to our son."

Despite middling reception, many critics specifically lauded it for its honesty. A review from RogerEbert.com commended the fact that "neither father nor son [was] averse to allowing their onscreen alter egos to come off badly." And according to The Guardian, the stand-in character for Rob is the true centre of the film: "imperfect not just as a person but as an attempt to understand Nick Reiner's demons."

An arraignment is a formal legal proceeding. Today, a judge will inform Nick Reiner of the charges — in this case, two counts of first-degree murder — and he'll be asked to enter a plea. The judge may also lay out a schedule of next steps, such as pre-trial motions or release conditions, like bail.

If Reiner pleads not guilty, the case would normally head toward a preliminary hearing to determine whether there is enough evidence for him to stand trial. Today may give an indication of how his defence will approach the charges he's facing.

Reiner's mental competence for trial could also be a factor. He had publicly acknowledged his struggle with drug addiction and mental health before his parents' deaths. He spoke about being in and out of drug rehab facilities since he was 15 years old and living through periods of homelessness when he refused to seek treatment.

The Associated Press

Nick Reiner's lawyer, Alan Jackson, is a high-profile defence attorney and former L.A. County prosecutor. He represented Harvey Weinstein at his Los Angeles trial and Kevin Spacey at his indecent assault and battery case in Massachusetts. He was also a central figure in the HBO documentary about the high-profile case against Karen Read, who was acquitted of second-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of her police-officer boyfriend.

After Reiner's first hearing last month, Jackson described the case as "a devastating tragedy that has befallen the Reiner family." He said the proceedings would be very complex.

"And we ask that during this process you allow the system to move forward in the way that it was designed to move forward," Jackson said outside the courthouse. "Not with a rush to judgment, not with jumping to conclusions."

Jackson declined to answer questions from dozens of reporters.

The prosecution is being led by deputy district attorney Habib Balian, whose recent cases included the Menendez brothers' attempt at resentencing and the trial of Robert Durst.

The Associated Press

For more than five decades, Rob Reiner was known as a warm and gregarious presence in Hollywood, with dozens of film and television credits to his name, both on and off screen. Like his first wife, Penny Marshall, he made the transition from television sitcom star to acclaimed feature film director — as well as becoming an outspoken liberal advocate.

The circumstances of the deaths left many inside and outside of the industry stunned.

"Rob was the big-hearted genius behind so many of the classic stories we love, with projects as wide-ranging as The Princess Bride to A Few Good Men," California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. "His boundless empathy made his stories timeless, teaching generations how to see goodness and righteousness in others — and encouraging us to dream bigger."

Rob and Michele had been married since 1989. The couple met on the set of When Harry Met Sally, one of the director's best known works.

Attention and coverage on Rob Reiner's death has been so sustained and all-consuming both for the circumstances of his death, but also the impact of his life.

A writer, producer, director and actor with hits spanning over half a century, the two-time Emmy winner was a prolific creator with a reputation as a passionate political advocate and kind-hearted friend in his personal life.

After an early start as a TV performer, the son of comedy legend Carl Reiner quickly made the jump to director and filmmaker. His credits spanned from mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap, to fantasy-adventure The Princess Bride and coming-of-age classic Stand By Me. This was paired with scoring steady appearances as an actor in films from Sleepless in Seattle to The Wolf of Wall Street, and sustained and frequent stints campaigning for politically liberal causes.

"Rob Reiner is one of the most significant figures in the history of film and television," actor and SAG-AFTRA president Sean Astin said in a statement soon after his death. "The impact he made on American culture simply can't be overstated.”

In addition to a lack of comment from authorities, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office said in a statement on Dec. 29 that it had received a court order to withhold the autopsy reports for Rob and Michele Reiner at the request of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).

"The department understands the public's interest in these cases and remains committed to transparency when possible. Information will be made available once the court order is lifted," the office said.

Some details about the couple's deaths were previously released, including preliminary findings that both victims died from "multiple sharp force injuries."

---

---