Nick Reiner, who has been charged with the murder of his parents Rob and Michele Reiner, has made his first appearance in court.
The 32-year-old, who is being held without bail, did not enter a plea, and his arraignment has been delayed until January 7, 2026, when he will once again have the opportunity to enter a plea. He will remain in custody at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles.
As he appeared in court yesterday (December 17), Mr Reiner said only “yes, your honour” when asked by Judge Theresa McGonigle if he understood that he has the right to a speedy trial, according to BBC News.
Reiner was initially expected to appear in court on Tuesday (December 16), but his defence attorney, Alan Jackson, told reporters he had not received medical clearance to do so.
Rob and Michele Reiner were found dead at home in Los Angeles on Sunday (December 14), with sources claiming that they had been stabbed to death and were found by their daughter, Romy. The Los Angeles Police Department said at the time that their deaths were being investigated as a homicide.
A number of hours after his parents died, Nick Reiner was arrested without incident in connection with the murders, and he was charged on suspicion of murder the following morning (December 15).
If he pleads not guilty, he could be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole or the death penalty if convicted. Prosecutors have said no decision has been made yet about whether the death penalty will be pursued.
Nick had previously been open about his struggles with addiction and homelessness, co-writing the film Being Charlie, directed by his father, which was loosely based on his experiences.
His appearance in court comes after his siblings Romy and Jake Reiner expressed gratitude for the “outpouring of condolences, kindness, and support” following the death of their parents. They asked for “respect and privacy, for speculation to be tempered with compassion and humanity, and for our parents to be remembered for the incredible lives they lived and the love they gave”.
“Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing every moment of the day,” they said in a statement via People. “The horrific and devastating loss of our parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, is something that no one should ever experience. They weren’t just our parents; they were our best friends.”
Since news broke of their parents’ deaths, countless tributes have poured in for Rob and Michele Reiner, including from Stephen King, who said that he was “horrified and saddened” by the news, and described the director as a “wonderful friend, political ally, and brilliant filmmaker”.
Paul McCartney also shared an image of himself and Rob together, and wrote: “What a tragedy the death of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, is. It is so shocking in many ways but for me especially so, because over the last year I had been working with him. He directed me in Spinal Tap II: The End Continues.”
Donald Trump, meanwhile, launched a personal attack on the Stand By Me Director, and put forward false claims that his murder was brought about by his “obsession” with criticising him.
Famous figures, including Jack White, Josh Gad, Whoopi Goldberg and Gracie Abrams then came forward to criticise the president for his comments before Trump repeated and defended his criticism, describing Reiner as “very bad for our country,” and a “deranged person”, adding: “I was not a fan of Rob Reiner at all, in any way, shape or form.”