The attorney representing Nick Reiner has decided to pull out of the murder case.
Nick, son of Rob and Michele Reiner, is facing accusations of fatally stabbing his parents. He was charged with first-degree murder following the discovery of their bodies in their Brentwood, Los Angeles home last month.
During a court appearance on Wednesday, January 7, at the Los Angeles Superior Court, Reiner waived his rights to enter a plea for the charges against him.
At this hearing, it was revealed that Nick’s lawyer, Alan Jackson, chose to step down from his role in defending him.
Jackson addressed the media on Wednesday outside the courthouse, stating: “Circumstances beyond my control, but more importantly circumstances beyond Nick’s control, have made it impossible for us to continue our representation.
“I’m legally and ethically prohibited from explaining the reasons why.”
The reasons for Jackson’s withdrawal, who has previously represented figures like Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey, remain unknown.
Even though he’s no longer representing him, Jackson maintains that Nick is not guilty of the murder charges.
In contrast, LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman expressed confidence in court that the evidence would lead to a conviction.
“We are fully confident that a jury will convict Nick Reiner beyond a reasonable doubt of the brutal murder of his parents – Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner,” the prosecutor asserted.
Following the change in Reiner’s legal representation, Judge Theresa McGonigle rescheduled his arraignment for February 23, and Kimberly Greene from the public defender’s office has been assigned to the case.
The Reiner family released a statement expressing their faith in the legal process and declined further comment on the ongoing legal proceedings.
If convicted, Reiner could face severe penalties including life imprisonment or, albeit unlikely, the death penalty due to California Governor Gavin Newsom’s stance against capital punishment, which has led to its suspension in the state.
Ricardo D. Garcia, the L.A. County Public Defender, acknowledged the tragic nature of the case, expressing condolences to the Reiner family and asking for understanding as the legal proceedings continue.