By Isabelle Wilson-
Nick Reiner,(pictured) the son of Hollywood luminary Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder more than two months after their deaths.
It was the first time the 32-year-old denied fatally stabbing his parents.
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On the night of the murder, guests at a party said they heard an intense argument between the son and his father. Ron and Michelle have in past times publicly spoken about their son’s battle with drug addiction.
Reiner’s lawyer, deputy public defender Kimberly Greene, entered the plea on his behalf as he stood behind glass in an enclosed custody area of a packed Los Angeles courtroom.
The arraignment had been set for Jan. 7, but it was delayed after his criminal defense attorney, Alan Jackson, asked to be removed from the case.
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Los Angeles County public defender Kimberly Greene then requested that the arraignment be postponed until Monday.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman described the case as being “on track” as he spoke to reporters following the arraignment. Officials are still waiting on a coroner’s report, but Hochman said the bulk of the discovery has been turned over to the defense counsel.
Mr Hochman said the death penalty decision “goes through a very rigorous process. We will be looking at all aggravating and mitigating circumstances”.
Reiner’s former lawyer, the high-profile Alan Jackson, had to quit the case at the previous hearing, citing reasons beyond his and his client’s control that ethics would not let him reveal.
“We have invited defense counsel to present to us — both in writing and orally in a meeting — any arguments that they would like to make in consideration for our going forward or not going forward with the death penalty,” Hochman said.
Reiner has been held without bail since his arrest hours, after beloved actor-director Reiner and photographer and producer Singer were found dead on December 14 at their home in the upscale Brentwood section of Los Angeles.
During the hearing, he spoke only to answer yes when the judge asked if he waived his right for next steps of the case to proceed speedily.
It was the third time he had been set to enter a plea, but issues surrounding the high-stakes, closely watched case, including a surprising change in defence lawyers, kept it from happening until Monday.
The judge told Reiner to return to court April 29 for the scheduling of a preliminary hearing where prosecutors will present evidence and a new judge will decide if it is enough for Reiner to go to trial.
The case will now be handled by veteran Los Angeles superior court Judge Sam Ohta.
Authorities have said nothing about possible motives, and leaks in the case have been virtually non-existent on both sides, leaving some of the most basic questions about the killing unanswered publicly.
Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Singer Reiner, 70, died from “multiple sharp force injuries”, the LA County Medical Examiner said in initial findings.
Authorities said they were killed hours before the bodies were discovered.
Rob Reiner was a prolific director whose work included some of the most memorable and endlessly watchable movies of the 1980s and ’90s.
His credits included This is Spinal Tap, Stand By Me, A Few Good Men, and When Harry Met Sally, during the production of which he met photographer Michele Singer.
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