Son of filmmaker Rob Reiner makes court appearance on charges he murdered parents
The younger son of Hollywood filmmaker and political activist Rob Reiner made his first court appearance on Wednesday for the two murder charges he faces in the stabbing deaths of his parents, who were found slain in their Los Angeles home over the weekend.
The Los Angeles District Attorney’s office announced the charges Tuesday after the Reiners’ son was arrested Sunday night and booked into jail Monday.
The weekend stabbing deaths of the acclaimed actor-director, 78, and his wife, 70, stunned the Hollywood community, as well as residents of Brentwood, the wealthy Los Angeles enclave where they lived. Their bodies were discovered Sunday.
Nick Reiner, 32, faces a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted of murder in the first degree, according to the criminal complaint filed Tuesday. Prosecutors said they are still evaluating whether to seek the death penalty.
“These are some of the most serious charges a DA can bring against anyone,” LA District Attorney Nathan Hochman said at a press conference.
‘Heart-Wrenching’
“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,” the prosecutor added.
The complaint includes few details beyond the names of the defendant and the victims, the date of the slayings and a recommendation that Nick Reiner be held with no bail.
Reiner will undergo the standard medical clearance for county jail detainees before being taken to court for arraignment, Hochman said.
“If there is evidence of mental illness it will be presented in court and in whatever detail the defense decides to do that,” Hochman said.
“This case is heartbreaking and deeply personal, not only for the Reiner family and their loved ones, but for our entire city,” Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said.
“The LAPD remains steadfast in our mission to protect life and uphold justice,” McDonnell said. “We will continue to support the Reiner family to ensure that every step forward is taken with care and dignity.”
‘Police Work’
McDonnell said Nick Reiner was tracked down and apprehended Sunday night without incident at Exposition Park, near the University of Southern California campus, and “found with good solid police work.”
Nick Reiner is represented by attorney Alan Jackson, who didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment after the charges were announced. Jackson told the New York Times his client would not be brought from the jail to the courthouse for medical reasons and that he would not make a court appearance before Wednesday.
Rob Reiner was responsible for some of the most-beloved romantic comedies, including The Princess Bride and When Harry Met Sally, and the classic rock mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap. He also directed more serious fare, including the courtroom drama A Few Good Men and Misery.
In addition to a successful career in front of the camera and behind, Reiner was also a well-known activist who contributed to liberal and Democratic causes.
