Film director Rob Reiner’s son could face death penalty if found guilty of parents’ killings, prosecutors say | US News

Rob Reiner’s son Nick could face the death penalty if he is found guilty of murdering his parents, Los Angeles prosecutors have said.

Nick Reiner will be charged with two counts of first degree murder over the killings, district attorney Nathan Hochman said.

The 32-year-old is suspected in the deaths of the 78-year-old director and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner.

“Rob Reiner was a brilliant actor and director, an iconic force in our entertainment industry for decades. His wife, Michel Singer Reine, was an equally iconic photographer and producer,” said Mr Hochman.

“Their loss is beyond tragic. We will commit ourselves to bringing their murderer to justice.”

Prosecutors said they would file the charges – two counts of first degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders, later on Tuesday.

They will also include a special allegation he used a dangerous weapon, a knife.

Mr Hochman said the charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty, adding “no decision” has been made with respect to the death penalty.

“This case is heartbreaking and deeply personal, not only for the Reiner family and their loved ones but for our entire city,” LA Police chief Jim McDonnell said.

“We will continue to support the Reiner family and ensure that every step forward is taken with care, dignity and resolve.”

Their tributes were a stark contrast to Donald Trump’s response to the news, which prompted the US president to attack Mr Reiner as “tortured and struggling, but once very talented”.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump said Mr Reiner and his wife died “reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME”.

Read more: Rob Reiner spoke to Eric Idle about future before he was killed

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It comes after it emerged Mr Reiner’s son was reportedly disruptive at a party hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien the night before the killings.

Nick Reiner joined his father and mother at the event on Saturday – and the couple were upset and embarrassed about his behaviour, Sky News’ US partner NBC News cited a source as saying.

They also expressed concerns about his health.

The outlet cited another source saying Nick Reiner’s behaviour had made other guests uncomfortable.

They said he interrupted a conversation filmmaker Bill Hader was having with two guests and – when informed it was a private conversation – stood still and stared before storming off.

The couple were found dead from apparent stab wounds at their home in the Brentwood neighbourhood on the west side of Los Angeles.

Nick Reiner did not resist when he was arrested hours later in the Exposition Park area, near the University of Southern California, around four miles from the crime scene, police said.

He had been expected to make an initial court appearance earlier on Tuesday, but his attorney said he was not brought from jail to the courthouse for medical reasons, and the appearance would not happen before Wednesday.

Nick Reiner has not yet entered a plea.

Rob Reiner was a celebrated director, whose work included some of the most memorable films of the 1980s and 1990s, including This Is Spinal Tap, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally and A Few Good Men.

He met Michele Singer in 1989, while directing When Harry Met Sally, and they had three children together.

Michele used to work as a photographer and took the photo of Donald Trump that appears on the cover of his book Trump: The Art Of The Deal.