Nick Reiner murder trial: no death penalty, hearing set for 2027
Prosecutors will not seek the death penalty against Nick Reiner, charged with murdering his parents in their Los Angeles home. Trial is not expected before 2027.
Death penalty dropped in Nick Reiner parents murder case
Prosecutors in Los Angeles have decided not to seek the death penalty against Nick Reiner, 33, who faces two counts of first-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of his parents, film director Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner, abc7ny.com reports.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced the decision on Tuesday, hours before Nick Reiner appeared before a judge for a brief pre-trial hearing that lasted fewer than five minutes.
Hochman said the move followed consultations with surviving family members and a "rigorous review" of the case. He said his office had spoken with the victims' siblings, Jake and Romy Reiner, who told prosecutors they strongly opposed making grand jury transcripts public.
"After speaking to the victims' next-of-kin, that is Jake and Romy Reiner, they have expressed a strong desire for these transcripts to remain sealed," Hochman said. "They have basically said that the disclosure to the public and the media of the details and the evidence in the killing of their parents will cause them additional trauma and harm."
A judge is expected to rule within weeks on whether those transcripts will be released.
Stabbed at home in Brentwood
Rob and Michele Reiner were killed at their home in the upscale Brentwood neighbourhood of Los Angeles on 14 December. Nick Reiner, their youngest son, was arrested within hours and charged two days later. He has been held without bail since December and has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
A grand jury indictment unsealed last month added the allegation that Nick Reiner was lying in wait before carrying out the killings — a finding that, combined with a murder conviction, had made him eligible for the death penalty. Prosecutors have now confirmed they will not pursue that sentence.
Lying in wait refers to a suspect waiting for or concealing themselves from victims in order to ambush them, and is used to demonstrate premeditation.
If convicted on both counts of first-degree murder, Nick Reiner faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Trial not expected before 2027
Hochman said the trial will likely not begin until 2027, though he stressed that his office is prepared to proceed whenever the defence is ready.
"At any point in which the defence is ready to proceed, the people are ready to proceed," Hochman said.
Legal expert Neama Rahmani told abc7ny.com the case is firmly on track for trial. "This case is absolutely headed for trial," Rahmani said. "I think there's no world where Nathan Hochman and the district attorney's office offer any type of discount."
Trust fund dispute
Nick Reiner is currently represented by a public defender but is seeking access to more than $500,000 he claims he is owed from a trust fund, with the intention of using those funds for his legal defence. He was previously represented by high-profile defence attorney Alan Jackson, and it is believed he intends to re-engage Jackson if he gains access to the trust.
Emmy tribute and family interview
Tuesday's court developments came the morning after an emotional Emmy Awards ceremony at which Rob and Michele Reiner were publicly honoured. Actress Jamie Lee Curtis paid tribute during the broadcast.
"He was generous and kind and funny as hell and a friend to all, and we all miss Rob and Michele and all those we lost this year," Curtis said in tears.
Last month, Jake Reiner spoke exclusively to abc7ny.com in his first on-camera interview since his parents' deaths, discussing the night of the killings, his brother's arrest, and his parents' humanitarian work.
California currently has a moratorium on executions, and no one has been put to death in the state in more than two decades. The moratorium can be lifted by the governor at any time, and the state is set to elect a new governor this year.
The Associated Press contributed to the original report.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)