Nick Reiner pleaded not guilty Monday to two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the December stabbing deaths of his parents, Hollywood couple Rob and Michele Reiner.
Reiner, 32, appeared in court before Judge Theresa McGonigle wearing a brown jail uniform and white shirt, with his head shaved.
If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
He remains in custody at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility.
High-Profile Attorney Withdraws
During a prior court appearance, defense attorney Alan Jackson announced he was stepping down from the case.
Jackson told reporters outside the courthouse:
“Circumstances beyond our control, but more importantly, circumstances beyond Nick’s control have dictated that.”
He added:
“Sadly, it’s made it impossible for us to continue our representation of Nick.
“I’m legally, and I’m ethically prohibited from explaining all the reasons why.”
Despite withdrawing, Jackson strongly maintained his client’s innocence.
“We’ve investigated this matter top to bottom, back to front,” Jackson said.
“What we’ve learned — and you can take this to the bank — is that pursuant to the laws of this state, pursuant to the law in California, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder.”
Deputy Public Defender Kimberly Greene has since been assigned to represent Reiner.
She stated that Reiner “was understanding that there was going to be a change in counsel.”
Arrest and Charges
Rob and Michele Reiner were found dead inside their Brentwood home on December 14.
Authorities launched a multi-agency effort to locate their son.
Nick Reiner was apprehended near the University of Southern California at approximately 9:15 p.m. that evening, hours after the bodies were discovered.
Two days later, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman charged him with two counts of first-degree murder.
Holiday Party Before the Killings
Talk show host Conan O’Brien, who hosted a holiday party attended by the Reiners shortly before their deaths, spoke publicly about the tragedy last week.
“I knew Rob and Michele, and then increasingly got closer and closer to them, and I was seeing them a lot,” O’Brien told The New Yorker.
“My wife and I were seeing them a lot, and they were so — they were just such lovely people.
“And to have that experience of saying good night to somebody and having them leave and then find out the next day that they’re gone.”
He continued:
“I think I was in shock for quite a while afterward. I mean, there’s no other word for it. It’s just very — it’s so awful. It’s just so awful.
“And I think about how Rob felt about things that are happening in the country, how involved he was, how much he put himself out there — and to have that voice go quiet in an instant is still hard for me to comprehend.”
Family friends told the Los Angeles Times that Nick had a heated argument with his parents at the party and appeared to be behaving erratically.
A source told People magazine:
“Nick was freaking everyone out, acting crazy, kept asking people if they were famous.”
Family Statement
A spokesman for the Reiner family said:
“They have the utmost trust in the legal process and will not comment further on matters related to the legal proceedings.”
The case now moves forward through the California court system, where prosecutors will seek to prove first-degree murder charges against the defendant.
The defense continues to assert that Nick Reiner is not guilty.
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