LOS ANGELES — Nick Reiner, the man accused of murdering his parents, beloved director Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, briefly appeared in Los Angeles courtroom on Wednesday as his case inched closer to trial.
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The defendant wore a jail outfit that included a yellow shirt and blue pants during a minutes-long hearing in front of L.A. Superior Court Judge Sam Ohta.
Reiner’s court-appointed defense lawyer, Kimberly Greene, asked for another preliminary hearing setting date and said her side is still waiting for more evidence to be turned over by prosecutors.
The judge ordered him back to court on Sept. 15 when another date could be set for the accused killer’s preliminary hearing.
Judge Ohta asked Reiner if he understood why his preliminary hearing was being delayed and defendant answered, “yeah.”
The 32-year-old Reiner has been charged with two counts of murder, in connection to the slayings of Rob Reiner, the 78-year-old director renowned for his movies about American life, and photographer and movie producer Michele Singer Reiner, 70.
In order for the younger Reiner to stand trial, prosecutors would need to present witnesses and enough evidence for Judge Ohta to bound the defendant over for trial.
The date of that preliminary hearing won’t be set any earlier than on Sept. 15.
The case against the younger Reiner includes special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and using a dangerous and deadly weapon, a knife, both of which could increase any possible penalty if he’s convicted.
He pleaded not guilty in February and waived his right to a speedy trial.
L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has said he’s considering seeking the death penalty, though California Gov. Gavin Newsom instituted a moratorium on the practice in 2019 through an executive order.
Director Rob Reiner (L) and wife Michele Singer attend the premiere of “The Magic of Belle Isle” at the Directors Guild of America on June 20, 2012 in Los Angeles, California.David Livingston / Getty Images file
Nick Reiner was diagnosed with schizophrenia several years ago and his medication was changed or adjusted at some point before the killings of his parents, three sources with direct knowledge of the case previously told NBC News.
The sources added that Nick Reiner was being treated for a serious psychiatric disorder when the murders took place at the Reiners’ home in L.A. on Dec. 14.
The pair were found dead in their home in the Brentwood neighborhood that afternoon. Nick Reiner was arrested the same night in L.A.’s University Park neighborhood near the University of Southern California.
Last week, brother Jake Reiner, 34, penned a Substack essay about how the death of his parents has been a “living nightmare” for him.
“They should be enjoying the rest of their lives peacefully while growing older together,” he wrote. “Instead, that was ripped away from them, from me, from [my sister] Romy, and there was nothing we could do about it.”
Leah Nagy and Madeline Morrison reported from Los Angeles and David K. Li from New York City
