Prosecutors will not seek death penalty against Nick Reiner

The son of acclaimed filmmaker Rob Reiner is accused of stabbing his parents to death.LOS ANGELES (CN) — LA District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced Tuesday that his office will not seek the death penalty against Nick Reiner, who is accused of killing his parents, including acclaimed filmmaker Rob Reiner.At a news conference, Hochman said the decision had been made “after a careful and thorough review” that included speaking to Nick Reiner’s siblings.“The brutal murders of Rob and Michelle are ones that will never leave us,” Hochman said. “We believe we have that murderer in custody.”Nick Reiner’s public defender, Kimberly Greene, said in an email she was pleased with the decision. She added: “Nick has a serious mental illness and a long history of struggling with self-medication. His circumstances are a tragic example of how difficult it can be for people experiencing significant mental health challenges to access and navigate the treatment and support they need.”The 33-year-old Reiner has a history of mental health challenges, which may become a factor in his defense. According to media reports, 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 made a brief appearance in a downtown LA courtroom Tuesday morning for a pre-trial hearing. He was clean-shaven, his jet black hair brushed messily to the side, and wearing a baggy, chocolate brown inmate uniform.Greene filed a motion to keep the grand jury transcripts and exhibits under seal. Hochman indicated he would not oppose such a step. News organizations have one week to file a letter of intent to oppose that motion, which will be heard on Oct. 7.Nick Reiner previously pleaded not guilty, having been initially represented by Alan Jackson, a prominent LA defense attorney. Jackson abruptly withdrew from the case in January without much explanation, but not before telling reporters, “You can take this to the bank: Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder. Print that!”Rob Reiner, the 78-year-old director of “This is Spinal Tap” and “The Princess Bride,” was found dead along with his wife, Michelle, at their home in Brentwood in December last year. According to an initial report by the LA County Medical Examiner, the couple died from “multiple sharp force injuries."Longtime political advocates for a number of left-wing causes, Rob and Michelle were opposed to the death penalty.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads