Nick Reiner's defense attorney withdraws from case
Nick Reiner did not enter plea when he returned to court on Wednesday for the alleged murders of his parents, renowned director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Reiner.
The 32-year-old, who faces two counts of first-degree murder with the special circumstance of multiple murders, sat behind the glass, wearing a dark jumpsuit and sporting a buzz cut.
Nick Reiner's defense attorney, Alan Jackson -- who helped defend Karen Read in Massachusetts -- withdrew from the case during Wednesday's court appearance. Jackson is under a protective order to not talk about the case.
When asked if he agreed to delay the arraignment again, Nick Reiner said, "Uh, yeah, I agree."
Nick Reiner is now assigned a public defender, Kimberly Green. He will return to court on Feb. 23 and remains in jail on no bail.
A Reiner family spokesperson said, "They have the utmost trust in the legal process and will not comment further on matters related to the legal proceedings."
Jackson told reporters after court, "I had to withdraw as Nick Reiner's counsel [due to] circumstances beyond our control, but more importantly, circumstances beyond Nick's control. ... Sadly, it's made it impossible for us to continue our representation of Nick."
"Pursuant to the law in California, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder," he added. "We wish him the very best moving forward."
On Dec. 17, Nick Reiner made a brief first court appearance and waived the right to a speedy arraignment.
Since his last appearance, sources told ABC News that law enforcement and defense attorneys had been working to piece together Nick Reiner’s psychiatric and substance abuse history.
Nick Reiner has a documented history of addiction and substance abuse treatment, and friends have told investigators that his mental health had been deteriorating prior to the murders.
Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner were found stabbed to death in their Brentwood home on Dec. 14.
The night before the murders, Nick Reiner -- who had been living on his parents' property -- got into an argument with Rob Reiner at a holiday party, and was seen acting strangely, sources told ABC News.
Nick Reiner was taken into custody in downtown Los Angeles hours after the bodies were discovered.
Rob and Michele Reiners' other children, Jake and Romy Reiner, said in a statement last month, "Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing."
"The horrific and devastating loss of our parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, is something that no one should ever experience. They weren't just our parents; they were our best friends," they said.
"We are grateful for the outpouring of condolences, kindness, and support we have received not only from family and friends but people from all walks of life," Jake and Romy Reiner said. "We now ask for respect and privacy, for speculation to be tempered with compassion and humanity, and for our parents to be remembered for the incredible lives they lived and the love they gave."
