Rob Reiner’s son, Nick Reiner, will be arraigned on Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court over the killing of his parents, the veteran filmmaker and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner.
The court appearance comes more than three weeks after the couple were found dead inside their home in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles. Authorities said both victims had stab wounds. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner later said they died from “multiple sharp force injuries.”
Nick Reiner, 32, was arrested hours after the bodies were discovered and has been held without bail since then. Prosecutors later charged him with two counts of first-degree murder. He did not enter a plea during his first court appearance on Dec. 17.
His lawyer, Alan Jackson, has not said what plea Reiner will enter. After the earlier hearing, Jackson described the case as “a devastating tragedy” and said it should be handled “not with a rush to judgment.”
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If Reiner pleads not guilty, the case would usually move to a preliminary hearing to decide whether there is enough evidence for a trial. The court may also look at his mental fitness to stand trial, following past public comments about his struggles with addiction and mental health.
Prosecutors have added special circumstances, including claims of multiple murders and the use of a knife. These could lead to a heavier sentence. They have not said whether they will seek the death penalty.
The case is being handled by Deputy District Attorney Habib Balian, who has led several high-profile prosecutions.
Rob Reiner, 78, was a well-known Hollywood director whose films include This Is Spinal Tap, Stand By Me, A Few Good Men and When Harry Met Sally. He met Michele Singer Reiner, a photographer, while working on When Harry Met Sally, and they later married.