Nick Reiner’s authorized drama took an surprising activate the primary courtroom date of the brand new 12 months when his high-profile lawyer abruptly withdrew from the case.
Alan Jackson, a media-savvy prison protection lawyer recognized for representing Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and Karen Learn, had signed on in mid-December to symbolize Reiner, who’s going through two counts of first-degree homicide within the deaths of his mother and father, Rob and Michele Reiner. Jackson pulled out of the case on Wednesday throughout a listening to on the downtown Los Angeles courthouse, although the explanations for his withdrawal stay unknown.
Throughout a press convention after the listening to, Jackson stated he wasn’t capable of provide extra rationalization however that he and his crew “stay deeply, deeply dedicated to Nick Reiner and to his finest pursuits.”
“I needed to withdraw as Nick Reiner’s counsel, circumstances past our management, however extra importantly, circumstances past Nick’s management have dictated that,” Jackson stated. “Sadly, it’s made it unimaginable for us to proceed our illustration of Nick. I’m legally, and I’m ethically prohibited from explaining all of the explanation why I do know that’s a query on all people’s thoughts. We anticipate the general public defender to step in. They’ve already been appointed and really capably defend Nick Reiner’s pursuits as he strikes ahead via the system.”
He continued: “We all know that the authorized course of will reveal the true info of the circumstances surrounding this case, Nick’s case. You realize, so much’s been printed of late. Over the past three weeks, so much has been printed, printed about Nick, printed about his household, printed concerning the circumstances. Hypothesis is in print on December 15, within the early morning hours, I used to be in New York on the time, and I bought a name. Me and my crew, we dropped every thing, and for the final three weeks, we’ve got devoted actually each waking hour to defending Nick and his pursuits. We’ve investigated this matter prime to backside, again to entrance.”
In a passionate remaining assertion, Jackson supplied a glimmer of perception into the case. “What we’ve realized, and you may take this to the financial institution, is that pursuant to the legal guidelines of this state, pursuant to the regulation in California, Nick Reiner just isn’t responsible of homicide.”
Previous to the listening to, Jackson, together with colleagues Caleb Mason and Jacqueline Sparagna from Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP, met briefly with Reiner, who was seen behind a glass wall carrying normal jail clothes. Jackson then mentioned his withdrawal in personal with Los Angeles County Superior Court docket Choose Theresa McGonigle earlier than returning to the courtroom roughly ten minutes later.
With Jackson’s departure, the Public Defender’s Workplace will now take over Reiner’s illustration. Case information presently in Jackson’s possession will probably be handed over to the general public defenders, and Reiner’s arraignment has been postponed for a second time, now set for February 23.
Reiner faces two counts of first-degree homicide with particular circumstances associated to a number of homicides. Los Angeles County prosecutors have additionally added a particular allegation for the usage of a lethal weapon — a knife. If convicted, Reiner may face a loss of life sentence or life in jail with out the potential of parole, although prosecutors have but to verify whether or not they are going to pursue the loss of life penalty.
The 32-year-old made his first courtroom look final month, talking solely to reply “sure, your honor” when requested if he agreed to a January arraignment date.
Jackson, widely known for dealing with a few of Hollywood’s most intently watched prison instances, beforehand represented Spacey in a Massachusetts groping case that was later dismissed and helped safe an acquittal for Karen Learn, charged with murdering her police officer boyfriend. He additionally defended Harvey Weinstein throughout his California rape trial, which resulted in a 16-year jail sentence. Earlier in his profession, Jackson labored as Assistant Head Deputy within the Main Crimes Division of the Los Angeles County District Legal professional’s Workplace, efficiently prosecuting Phil Spector for the homicide of actress Lana Clarkson. Over the course of his profession, he has tried greater than 85 instances to jury verdict and was named one in every of California’s Prime 100 Legal professionals.
Nick Reiner was arrested following the deaths of Rob, 78, and Michele, 68, on Sunday, December 14. The couple was discovered useless inside their Brentwood, Los Angeles dwelling by their daughter Romy, 28, in line with sources. Nick was taken into custody hours later close to the College of Southern California campus and is presently being held with out bail at Males’s Central Jail in Los Angeles.
Nick has brazenly mentioned his struggles with dependancy, together with a number of stints in rehab and intervals of homelessness — experiences that impressed the semi-autobiographical 2015 movie Being Charlie, which he co-wrote and Rob Reiner directed. His struggles appeared to proceed in later years, with Nick admitting on a 2018 podcast that he trashed his mother and father’ guesthouse throughout a drug-fueled bender.
The evening earlier than Rob and Michele had been discovered useless, the household attended comic Conan O’Brien’s Christmas occasion. A number of sources informed PEOPLE that Nick and Rob bought right into a “large” and “loud” argument, with one describing Nick’s habits as “freaking everybody out.”
