Rob Reiner’s son pleads not guilty in parents’ fatal stabbings, Los Angeles prosecutors say
Nick Reiner, 32, pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner, during a court appearance in Los Angeles, authorities said.
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Prosecutors said the case stems from a December incident that jolted Hollywood days before Christmas. The younger Reiner was arrested on Dec. 14 after the bodies of his father, 79, and his mother, 70, were found at the family’s home in Brentwood, an affluent neighborhood on the city’s Westside.
Prosecutors allege both victims were stabbed to death. No additional details about the circumstances of the killings were disclosed in court. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed two murder counts, and Reiner entered his plea at an initial appearance.
Reiner remains in custody and has not been granted bail, according to court officials. A judge ordered him to return to court on April 29 for further proceedings.
Rob Reiner, a prominent director and actor, is known for a string of box-office and critical hits, including “When Harry Met Sally” and “A Few Good Men.” News of the killings and the arrest of his son ricocheted through the entertainment industry, where the Reiner family has long-standing ties.
A not-guilty plea at this stage is routine in serious felony cases and does not preclude potential plea negotiations or other defense strategies as the case moves through the courts. Under California law, defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Los Angeles Police Department responded to the Brentwood home on Dec. 14, where the victims were discovered, officials said. Authorities did not immediately release information about a possible motive, and no other suspects have been named in the case.
The hearings ahead will likely address evidence disclosures, including forensic findings and witness statements, as prosecutors prepare for a possible preliminary hearing to determine whether sufficient evidence exists for the case to proceed to trial. Defense filings and motions could also shape what evidence a jury might ultimately be allowed to hear.
The court date set for April 29 is expected to clarify the next steps in a case that has drawn intense public scrutiny, both for its brutality and for the prominence of those involved.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
