Nick Reiner pleads not guilty to murder charges in parents' deaths

Nick Reiner, the son of Hollywood legend Rob Reiner, pleaded not guilty Monday to murder charges stemming from the deaths of his parents in their Brentwood home.

Reiner, 32, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and special-circumstance allegations — multiple murders and use of a deadly weapon — that make him eligible for the death penalty if he is convicted.

Reiner is being held without bail.

Deputy Public Defender Kimberly Greene is representing him after high profile defense attorney Alan Jackson abruptly dropped out of the case in January, citing circumstances beyond his control.

It's not yet clear whether prosecutors will seek the death penalty in Reiner's case or life in prison without the possibility of parole. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has not yet announced a decision, but has said he will consider input from the Reiner family on the issue.

“We take the process in which the death penalty should be sought extremely seriously,” Hochman said after the arraignment. “It goes through a very rigorous process.”

It is common for prosecutors to weigh information from many sources before making a decision about whether to pursue capital punishment.

“We will be looking at all aggravating and mitigating circumstances and we have invited defense counsel to present to us both in writing and orally in a meeting any arguments they would like to make in consideration of going forward or not going forward with the death penalty,” Hochman said.

Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Singer Reiner, 70, were found dead in their bedroom Dec. 14 from what the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office described as multiple sharp-force injuries.

Nick Reiner was arrested the same day near the University of Southern California, according to police.

Authorities have not identified a possible motive.

Nick Reiner has been open about his struggles with addition, mental health and stays in rehabilitation centers. In 2015, he co-wrote a film about a family struggling with a child’s addiction, which his father directed.

At the time of the killings, Reiner was living in a guest house on his parent’s property.

Reiner's next Superior Court hearing is set for April 29.