Hollywood director Rob Reiner's two children have reportedly stopped paying for private legal counsel for their brother Nick Reiner, who is being prosecuted for the alleged murder of their parents at their Brentwood, Los Angeles home.
According to TMZ, Romy Reiner (28) and Jake Reiner (34) had previously hired prominent criminal defense attorney Alan Jackson shortly after police discovered the bodies of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner in mid-December. However, attorney Jackson later withdrew from the case due to undisclosed disagreements.
Nick Reiner, 32, is now represented by public defender Kimberly Greene from the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office. At a court hearing on Monday, Nick pleaded not guilty to the charge of first-degree murder.
A source told TMZ that Romy and Jake are not involved in their brother's defense strategy. The public defender's office declined to comment.
Legal Developments
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman stated that he would not rule out seeking the death penalty if Nick is convicted — a noteworthy point given Rob Reiner's past public opposition to capital punishment.
Nick Reiner was arrested on December 14 after Los Angeles police responded to a death investigation call at the family home and found both victims deceased.
The next hearing is scheduled for April 29, when the court may set a preliminary hearing date.
Personal Circumstances
Nick has previously spoken publicly about his struggles with addiction and instability. He co-wrote the 2015 film "Being Charlie" with his father, which was reportedly inspired by his own recovery experiences.
Previous reports indicated that Nick was placed under a court-ordered conservatorship in 2020, which later ended. Specific medical details have not been released in current court records.
The case is still in its initial stages of legal proceedings.
