Nick Reiner has pleaded not guilty for a second time to the murder of his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner and Michele Singer, after new details emerged in the case. The 32-year-old entered the plea on Wednesday after the original murder case was replaced by grand jury charges, which were unsealed that day. Prosecutors have brought forward accusations of a 'special circumstance', alleging that Nick lay in wait for his parents before the fatal attack at their Los Angeles home.
Grand Jury Indictment and Allegations
The Los Angeles County district attorney, Nathan Hochman, described the case as 'a profound betrayal by someone who was loved and trusted by the very people he is accused of killing.' He added, 'We hope that by having a grand jury return an indictment in this case it will bring us one step closer to a trial and achieving justice.'
Nick has been in custody without bail since his arrest, which came just hours after the bodies of Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Singer, 70, were discovered on December 14. The couple had been married for 36 years and were found fatally stabbed at their Brentwood home.
Legal and Financial Turmoil
Nick's original lawyer had 'no choice' but to resign, reportedly due to financial issues related to inheritance. A trust named 'Nick's Trust' required half of the fund to be distributed to Nick 'outright when he turned 30', with the remainder due when he turned 35. However, it has been alleged that the mandatory distribution did not occur when he reached 30, despite 'months of repeated inquiries' to the current trustee.
A petition further stated that Nick intended to use the first half of the cash to cover legal expenses and his personal account while in jail, to access 'basic support items' like hygiene supplies within the 'low spending limits' imposed by the prison.
Family Dynamics and Aftermath
It is thought that Rob and Nick had an argument the night before the deaths, although the family denied that it had resulted in them leaving an event early. The couple's youngest child, Romy, found her father's body after being informed that they had missed their massage therapist appointment. She was later told of her mother's death and alerted the police, shortly before calling actor Billy Crystal, who 'raced' to the scene to 'say his goodbyes'.
Tributes were penned by numerous celebrities, including Barbra Streisand, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Whoopi Goldberg, Stephen King, Jimmy Kimmel, and Demi Moore.
If convicted, Nick could face life in prison without parole or the death penalty. The case continues to move toward trial, with the grand jury indictment bringing it one step closer to legal proceedings.
