Nick Reiner‘s defense attorney, Alan Jackson, told a court Wednesday that he is withdrawing from the double murder case.
Reiner, who is accused of killing his parents Rob and Michele Reiner, appeared in court for an arraignment. A deputy public defender, Kimberly Greene, took over his defense.
Reiner spoke only once, agreeing to postpone his arraignment to Feb. 23.
“Yeah, I agree,” he said.
Outside court, Jackson said he was not ethically permitted to explain the full reasons for his departure from the case, but attributed it to “circumstances beyond our control, and more importantly, circumstances beyond Nick’s control.”
“My team and I remain deeply, deeply committed to Nick Reiner and to his best interests,” Jackson said.
Reiner’s mental state figures to be a central issue in the case, but there has been no formal indication of an insanity plea. Jackson noted that much speculation had been written about the case.
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“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,” Jackson said. “Print that. We wish him the very best moving forward.”
Nathan Hochman, the Los Angeles County district attorney, also spoke to the press outside court.
“We are fully confident that a jury will convict Nick Reiner beyond a reasonable doubt of the brutal murders of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, and will do so unanimously,” Hochman said.
Greene and the Los Angeles County public defender, Ricardo Garcia, also spoke, saying they had learned they would be taking over the case on Tuesday. Greene said she had only spoken to Reiner for about 30 seconds, and would have to consult further with him before deciding how to proceed. She said she did not believe that Reiner’s siblings were aware of the change in representation.
Reiner had previously appeared in court in a blue suicide prevention smock. On Wednesday he wore a brown jail jumpsuit and his head was shaved. He sat behind a glass screen in the large courtroom at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, occasionally standing to speak to his attorneys.
The 32-year-old faces a maximum sentence of life without parole or the death penalty for the murders of his parents. He was charged with two counts of first-degree murder with “special circumstances,” which makes the crime potentially eligible for the death penalty.
Rob and Michele Reiner were found dead in their Brentwood home around 3:40 p.m. on Dec. 14. Nick Reiner was arrested that night near the USC campus in Exposition Park, which is about 12 miles from Brentwood. He was booked on suspicion of murder the next morning and is being held without bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles. Jackson has worked with high-profile clients like Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and Karen Read in the past.
“Prosecuting these cases involving family members are some of the most challenging and most heart-wrenching cases that this office faces because of the intimate and often brutal nature of the crimes involved,” said Hochman said when the charges were announced.
Nick Reiner had previously discussed his struggles with addiction and homelessness and co-wrote the 2015 film “Being Charlie,” which his father directed, about his experiences.
Rob and Michele Reiner’s deaths have stunned Hollywood and the world. Rob had directed classic movies like “The Princess Bride,” “Stand by Me,” “This Is Spinal Tap,” “When Harry Met Sally,” “A Few Good Men” and more after first breaking out by playing Meathead on “All in the Family.” Many fans, filmmakers and his close friends, like Billy Crystal, Larry David and more, paid tribute to the couple.
From Variety US