Nick Reiner, the 32-year-old charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the fatal stabbing of his parents, famed director Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner, pleaded not guilty in a Los Angeles courtroom recently.
Reiner waived his right to a speedy preliminary hearing and no bail was granted. Reiner, who had a shaved head, wore brown prison-issued overalls and had shackles on his wrists during his appearance.
A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for April 29.
Rob and Michele Reiner were found stabbed to death in their Los Angeles home late last year.
Reiner has been in custody since his initial arrest in December.
The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole or the death penalty.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman told reporters outside the courthouse after the hearing that his office has not yet determined whether they will seek the death penalty.
“We take the process in which we determine whether or not the death penalty should be sought extremely seriously, and it goes through a very rigorous process,” he said. “We will be looking at all aggravating and mitigating circumstances, and we have invited defense counsel to present to us, both in writing and orally in a meeting, any arguments that they would like to make in consideration for our going forward or not going forward with the death penalty.”
Rob and Michele Reiner had three children together – Jake, Romy and Nick.
CNN has reached out to a spokesperson for Romy and Jake Reiner for comment.
Last month, Reiner did not enter a plea during his initial arraignment because his high-profile attorney, Alan Jackson, withdrew as his counsel. Deputy Public Defender Kimberly Greene now represents him, according to the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office. (CNN)
