All eyes will be on Nick Reiner as he enters an LA courtroom Monday for the third time since he was accused of slashing his famous parents to death in their $20 million Brentwood mansion.
The arraignment is expected to last a few minutes as he enters a plea, but his public defender Kimberly Greene could use it to start building an insanity defense, a legal expert told The Post.
Rob Reiner, wife Michele and their son Nick Reiner posing together. Getty Images for Teen VogueHere’s the latest on the death of Rob Reiner:
- Nick Reiner’s hotshot lawyer Alan Jackson likely quit double-slay case over price tag: experts
- Nick Reiner slated to appear in court for arraignment in case of parents’ gruesome murder
- Rob and Michele Reiner death reports pulled from Los Angeles Medical Examiner site at request of LAPD
- How cops tracked down Nick Reiner in frantic manhunt after parents’ Rob and Michele’s brutal murder
“One reason to roll out a mental defense now is that, by waiting, it can undermine the credibility of an argument later, causing people to ask, “If he’s so bad off mentally, why didn’t you raise the issue earlier?” lawyer Royal Oakes said.
One way the defense could raise the issue is to argue Reiner is unable to understand the proceedings. “They can play the competency card. That can stop the case cold and trigger psychiatric evaluations,” Oakes continued.
Nick Reiner’s public defender Kimberly Greene addressing the court. Eric Thayer/Pool/ShutterstockHe added that A-list celebrities at Conan O’Brien’s holiday party, who witnessed Reiner’s behavior just hours before the killings, could have a huge impact on the viability of an insanity defense.
Witnesses at the party described a blowup argument between Reiner and his parents, and said he was interrupting partygoer conversations at the bash.
“Did Reiner, hours before the murders, seem obnoxious but cogent, or did he seem disconnected from reality? That’s the essence of the insanity test in California.” said Oakes.
Illustration of Nick Reiner in court facing murder charges, depicted in profile wearing handcuffs. via REUTERSBut Greene has no obligation to raise the issue at the arraignment, which is mostly procedural and not where evidence is argued.
“The defense is absolutely free to plead not guilty now and keep its mental health strategy under wraps. There’s no requirement that they tip their hand at this early stage,” the attorney said.
Nick Reiner is accused of stabbing his parents to death on Dec. 14, 2025, at their home in LA. REUTERSSo far, Reiner’s plea has been postponed twice. The first was when hotshot lawyer Alan Jackson entered the case and wanted more time to talk with his client.
Jackson dropped out of the case in court seven days later, that move further derailed a plea and put Greene in the driver’s seat as head attorney on the case.
The Reiner’s Brentwood home where the murders took place. TED SOQUI/EPA/ShutterstockThe December 14 murders of Rob and Michelle Reiner shocked Hollywood to its core. Nick Reiner was arrested the day after the bloody bodies were discovered.
He’s been locked up in LA’s county jail with no bail ever since his arrest.
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