The high-profile criminal defense lawyer representing Nick Reiner plans to remove himself from the case on Wednesday, a few weeks after prosecutors accused Mr. Reiner of killing his parents, the Hollywood director Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner.
The significant departure is expected to be announced during an arraignment hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court, said a person with knowledge of the situation who spoke to The New York Times on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information. Mr. Reiner, 32, has been represented by Alan Jackson, a well-known lawyer whose clients have included Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey.
The move may suggest that the Reiner family — Nick has two siblings — has distanced itself from Mr. Reiner and his legal case, at least financially.
Mr. Reiner was charged with two counts of first-degree murder on Dec. 16 after his parents were found stabbed to death inside their home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles.
The state charges included the aggravating factor of multiple murders, meaning that if Mr. Reiner is convicted he will face the possibility of life in prison without a chance at parole or the death penalty. Prosecutors have not said whether they would seek capital punishment; Gov. Gavin Newsom put a moratorium on executions in California in 2019.
Mr. Reiner worked with his father, the director of “This Is Spinal Tap,” “The Princess Bride” and “When Harry Met Sally …,” on a 2016 movie loosely based on their sometimes strained relationship. Over the years, Mr. Reiner has spoken openly about his struggles with drug abuse and bouts of homelessness.
When Mr. Reiner made a brief court appearance on Dec. 17, Mr. Jackson agreed to delay the arraignment so he could review more of the evidence. Mr. Jackson told reporters outside the courthouse that there were “very complex and serious issues associated with this case” that needed time to be examined.
In announcing the charges last month, Nathan J. Hochman, the Los Angeles County district attorney, said the case would be particularly difficult to prosecute because of the intimacy between the victims and the accused.
“These cases, involving family members, are some of the most challenging and most heart-wrenching cases that our office faces,” he said.
Matt Stevens is a Times reporter who writes about arts and culture from Los Angeles.
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