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Nick Reiner's lawyer removes himself from Rob Reiner murder case but makes one major claim about former client
The high-profile attorney representing Nick Reiner, who is charged with the stabbing deaths of his parents Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, has stepped away from the case. Alan Jackson, a former LA County prosecutor, made the announcement outside a Los Angeles courthouse following a closed-door meeting with the judge.
Jackson would not give any specific reason for his decision but stressed that it had nothing to do with Nick’s guilt. “Circumstances beyond our control and more importantly, circumstances beyond Nick's control, have dictated that, sadly, it's made it impossible to continue our representation,” he said, per WTOC 11.
He added with emphasis: “What we've learned, and you can take this to the bank, is that pursuant to the laws of this state, pursuant to the law of California, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder. Print that.”
The bodies of Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Singer Reiner, 70, were discovered at their Brentwood home on December 14. According to the LA County Medical Examiner’s initial findings, both died from "multiple sharp force injuries".
Court hearing postponed as public defender steps in
Nick Reiner was due to be arraigned on two counts of first-degree murder at Wednesday’s hearing, but the plea was postponed to February 23 after Jackson’s withdrawal. Public Defender Kimberly Greene will now represent Reiner moving forward.
During the hearing, Reiner appeared in court behind glass wearing brown jail clothing and with his head shaved. He spoke only to confirm the delay in entering a plea. Jackson did not indicate any future defense strategy but revealed that he and his team had been working non-stop on the case since getting a call about it while in New York.
“We dropped everything,” Jackson said via The Washington Post. “For the last three weeks, we have devoted literally every waking hour to protecting Nick and his interests. We've investigated this matter top to bottom, back to front.”
Family and legal community react to case
In a statement following the hearing, a spokesperson for the Reiner family said per Reuters: “They have the utmost trust in the legal process and will not comment further on matters related to the legal proceedings.”
Ricardo D. Garcia, LA County’s Public Defender, also addressed the case in a rare public comment: “The Public Defender's Office recognises what an unimaginable tragedy this is for the Reiner family and the Los Angeles community. Our hearts go out to the Reiner family as they navigate this difficult time. We ask for your patience and compassion as the case moves through the legal process.”
Jackson ended his brief news appearance by reaffirming his team’s belief in Reiner’s innocence. “We're not just convinced; we know that the legal process will reveal the true facts,” he said, before declining to answer any further questions.