Nick Reiner smiled eerily in court today as his high-profile criminal defense lawyer sensationally removed himself from the case.
The dramatic departure suggests the Reiner family is pulling financial support from Nick’s legal battle after the shocking murders of their parents.
Nick, 32, appeared behind a glass screen in brown jail garb with a shaved head, staring blankly through proceedings and occasionally letting out a chilling grin.
He was scheduled to be arraigned on two counts of first-degree murder at Los Angeles Superior Court’s Stanley Mosk Courthouse and was widely expected to enter a not guilty plea by reason of insanity.
But his defense attorney, Alan Jackson – whose famous former clients list includes Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey – stunned observers by announcing his withdrawal.
Jackson’s departure means Nick will be represented by a public defender.
Iconic director Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele, 70, were found stabbed to death in their Brentwood home on December 14 after attending Conan O’Brien’s holiday party.
Nick – who had been battling mental health problems and drug addiction – was arrested within hours and charged with their murders.
Nick Reiner is pictured in LA in September
Nick has been charged with two first-degree murder counts in the December 14 slayings of Rob and Michele Reiner; pictured in LA in September
Judge Theresa McGonigle has rescheduled the arraignment for February 23 and assigned Nick’s case to Kimberly Greene, a lawyer in the public defender’s office.
A source told the New York Times that Jackson’s departure had nothing to do with his performance.
Jackson was hired almost immediately after Nick’s arrest last month after being recommended by lawyers for the Reiner family.
After meeting with the judge in her chambers, Jackson told the courtroom this morning, ‘We feel we have no choice’ in withdrawing from the case – offering no further explanation.
A spokesman for the Reiner family told the Daily Mail: ‘They have the utmost trust in the legal process and will not comment further on matters related to the proceedings.’
At a press conference after the hearing, Jackson said that while he was removing himself from the case, he continues to back Nick’s innocence.
‘I’ll be very clear about this, my team and I remain deeply committed to Nick Reiner and to his best interests. In fact, we know the legal process will reveal the true facts surrounding Nick’s case.
‘A lot has been printed of late, about nick, his family, the circumstances, speculation.
‘What we’ve learned – and you can take this to the bank – is that pursuant to the law of this state, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder. Print that! We wish him the very best moving forward.’
It comes three-and-a-half weeks after Rob and Michele Reiner were found dead with stab wounds in their home in the upscale Brentwood section of Los Angeles.
Nick, the third of Rob Reiner’s four children, was arrested hours later and has been held without bail since.
He was charged on December 16 with two counts of first-degree murder.
If Nick is convicted he will face the possibility of life in prison without a chance at parole or the death penalty. Prosecutors have not said whether they would push for capital punishment, however.
The prosecution is being led by Deputy District Attorney Habib Balian, whose recent cases included the Menendez brothers’ attempt at resentencing and the trial of Robert Durst.
Nick’s defense attorney, Alan Jackson (shown holding a press conference after the hearing) stunned observers by announcing his withdrawal
Nick did not enter a plea during a brief first court appearance December 17, when he wore shackles and a suicide prevention smock.
He was not wearing that smock Wednesday.
A decade ago, Nick publicly discussed his severe struggles with addiction and mental health after making a movie with his father, ‘Being Charlie,’ that was very loosely based on their lives.
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 whose production he met Michele Singer, a photographer, and married her soon after.
