A new legal move could send the Hollywood family murder case toward trial while prosecutors weigh its most severe possible consequence.
A Los Angeles grand jury has indicted Nick Reiner in the murder of his parents – director Rob Reiner and producer Michele Reiner – who were found stabbed to death in their home in December.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said on August 12 that a special circumstance had been added to the charges: committing the crime by lying in wait. Nick Reiner faces two counts of first-degree premeditated murder.
Other aggravating circumstances cited include the murder of multiple people and the use of a dangerous deadly weapon – a knife. If such circumstances are established, the defendant may be eligible for the death penalty if prosecutors decide to seek that punishment.
Nick Reiner pleads not guilty
Thirty-two-year-old Nick Reiner has been held without bail since his arrest in December. In February, he pleaded not guilty in court to the murder charges.
Rob Reiner was 78, while Michele Reiner was 70. The couple were found with stab wounds in their home in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles.
The grand jury returned the indictment on July 20. It replaces the previous charges and allows prosecutors to bring the case to trial without holding a public preliminary hearing, at which the prosecution would have had to present its evidence.
We hope that the grand jury indictment in this case brings us one step closer to trial and to restoring justice.
– District Attorney Nathan Hochman
What is known about the Reiner family
Nick Reiner is the middle child of Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner, who had three children. He has previously spoken about his years-long struggle with substance addiction.
Rob Reiner rose to fame for his role in the 1970s television comedy “All in the Family.” He later directed “When Harry Met Sally,” “This Is Spinal Tap,” and “The Princess Bride.”
The next pretrial hearing in Nick Reiner’s case is scheduled for September 15.