Nick Reiner back in court to face murder charges

All eyes are on Nick Reiner as he appears in a Los Angeles courtroom on Monday for the third time since facing charges for allegedly killing his well-known parents in their luxurious $20 million Brentwood home.

The arraignment is anticipated to be brief as he enters a plea, but according to a legal expert consulted by The Post, his public defender, Kimberly Greene, might seize this opportunity to begin establishing an insanity defense.


Here’s the latest on the death of Rob Reiner:


“Introducing a mental health defense early on is strategic,” explained lawyer Royal Oakes, “as delaying it might weaken the argument’s credibility later. People might question, ‘If his mental state is so severe, why wasn’t this raised sooner?’”

The defense could potentially argue that Reiner lacks the capacity to comprehend the legal proceedings. “They might invoke a competency challenge. Doing so could halt the case and initiate psychiatric evaluations,” Oakes elaborated.

Furthermore, the behavior Reiner exhibited at Conan O’Brien’s holiday gathering, just hours before the tragic event, could significantly influence the strength of an insanity plea, especially given the presence of A-list celebrities who witnessed it.

Party attendees recalled a heated argument between Reiner and his parents, noting that he was also disrupting conversations during the celebration.

“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.

But 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.

So 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 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.


Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn
California Post Sports Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X
California Post Opinion
California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!
California Post App: Download here!
Home delivery: Sign up here!
Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!


You May Also Like
All 12 occupants dead in Missouri plane crash near Butler Memorial Airport, state highway patrol says

Missouri Plane Crash Near Butler Memorial Airport Kills 12: State Highway Patrol Confirms No Survivors

A plane carrying a group preparing for a Sunday afternoon of skydiving…
Chicago weather: Calumet City residents deal with more property damage after Saturday night storms amid tornado recovery, cleanup

Calumet City Hit by New Storm Damage as Residents Continue Tornado Recovery and Cleanup

CALUMET CITY, Ill. — Residents across the Chicago area woke up Sunday…
Anti-G7 protest turns violent as demonstrators torch Tesla and smash UN office windows

Anti-G7 Protest Erupts in Violence as Demonstrators Burn Tesla, Shatter UN Office Windows

Protesters in Geneva set a Tesla ablaze and shattered windows at a…
National Guardsman Natravien Landry pleads guilty to fatal shooting of soldier he found in bed with his ex-girlfriend

National Guardsman Natravien Landry Pleads Guilty in Fatal Shooting of Soldier Found With Ex-Girlfriend

A former U.S. Army National Guard soldier has admitted to fatally shooting…
NYC's ACS would have to finally cough up critical records for state probers under newly passed bill

Newly Passed Bill Would Require NYC’s ACS to Turn Over Key Records to State Investigators

A bill passed in Albany could force New York City’s troubled child-welfare…
Boston police arrest 14-year-old after masked suspects allegedly rob siblings’ lemonade stand

Boston Police Arrest 14-Year-Old After Masked Robbery at Siblings’ Lemonade Stand

Authorities in Boston said Friday that a 14-year-old has been taken into…
Detroit sisters accused of stabbing restaurant worker after wrong food order

Detroit Sisters Charged After Allegedly Stabbing Restaurant Worker Over Wrong Food Order

Two Detroit sisters — one of whom was nine months pregnant at…
Khamenei's 'target-rich' funeral is Iran’s biggest security gamble, sends message to US: expert

Khamenei’s “Target-Rich” Funeral: Iran’s High-Stakes Security Gamble and Warning to the U.S.

Iran’s decision to schedule a state funeral in July for Supreme Leader…
They're uninsured after Obamacare became too costly. And they're far from alone.

Priced Out of Obamacare, More Americans Are Going Uninsured

Sugar Grove, North Carolina — For years, Ross and Rebecca Tobiassen watched…
Strait of Hormuz: Oil and gas supplies could take months to return to normal after Iran deal, energy experts say

Strait of Hormuz Reopens, but Global Oil and Gas Supply Recovery May Take Months After Iran Deal, Experts Warn

Even with Sunday’s announcement of a deal to halt the Iran war…
Israel fears Trump weary of ‘highly suspicious’ Netanyahu and could 'flip' amid Iran deal: analyst

Report: Israel Concerned Trump May Turn on Netanyahu Amid Iran Deal Tensions

Trump calls out Netanyahu over Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets Escalating tensions…
Mass protest at Stanford University graduation as soon as Google CEO Sundar Pichai takes the stage

Stanford Graduation Erupts in Protest as Google CEO Sundar Pichai Takes the Stage

Dozens of graduates staged a walkout during Stanford University’s commencement ceremony on…