Nick Reiner attorney abruptly withdraws from case

LOS ANGELES (CN) — Famed defense attorney Alan Jackson announced on Wednesday that he was withdrawing as counsel for Nick Reiner, who is accused in the murders of his parents Michele Reiner and filmmaker Rob Reiner.

Jackson, who in the past represented Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and, more recently, Karen Read — the Boston-area woman acquitted of running over her police officer boyfriend — told a large scrum of reporters outside the courthouse that he was removing himself from the case due to “circumstances beyond our control,” though he was “legally and ethically prohibited from saying why.”

But that didn’t stop him from making a pronouncement about his former client’s innocence.

“You can take this to the bank,” he announced loudly. “Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder. Print that!”

Rob Reiner, 78, director of the films “This is Spinal Tap,” “The Princess Bride” and “When Harry Met Sally,” was found dead along with his wife on Dec. 14 at their home in Brentwood. Nick, their second of three children, was arrested later that day and charged with murder, with the claim that a knife was used in the crimes. According to the Reiners’ death certificate, the couple died from multiple stab wounds.

The 32-year-old Reiner appeared in court for the first time on Dec. 17, wearing jeans and an anti-suicide vest, without a shirt. He did not enter a plea. According to numerous media reports, Reiner was taken off suicide watch this week, and is currently being held at Twin Towers Correctional Facility without bail.

On Wednesday, he appeared in court again, this time in a brown jumpsuit, his head shaved. His scheduled arraignment was once again put off, to Feb. 23. He did not enter a plea.

There has been much speculation about whether or not Reiner will be declared mentally fit to stand trial. According to the Los Angeles Times, he was prescribed medication for schizophrenia before the murder. He has talked in past interviews about struggles with addiction to heroin and other drugs, has been in and out of rehab and even experienced homelessness.

Reiner will now be represented by public defender Kimberly Greene. Asked by reporters whether Reiner seemed mentally sound, Greene said, “I only spoke to Mr. Reiner for about 30 seconds this morning.”

She added: “It’s not uncommon for private counsel to turn over cases to us.”

The night before the murders, Nick Reiner attended a holiday party with his dad at the home of talk show host Conan O’Brien, where his behavior made guests uncomfortable. According to The New York Times, he and his dad got into a shouting match.

If convicted, Reiner faces life in prison or possibly even a death sentence, though no execution has taken place in California since 2006. District Attorney Nathan Hochman has not yet made a decision whether to seek the death penalty.

“We are fully confident that a jury will convict Nick Reiner… of the brutal murder of his parents, and do so unanimously,” Hochman told reporters Wednesday.

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