All eyes can be on Nick Reiner as he enters an LA courtroom Monday for the third time since he was accused of slashing his well-known mother and father to loss of life of their $20 million greenback Brentwood mansion.
The arraignment is predicted to final a couple of minutes as he enters a plea, however his public defender Kimberly Greene might use it to start out constructing an madness protection, a authorized skilled instructed the Submit.
“One purpose to roll out a psychological protection now could be that, by ready, it might undermine the credibility of an argument later, inflicting individuals to ask, “If he’s so dangerous off mentally, why didn’t you increase the difficulty earlier?” lawyer Royal Oakes mentioned.
A method the protection might increase the difficulty is to argue Reiner is unable to grasp the proceedings. “They will play the competency card. That may cease the case chilly and set off psychiatric evaluations.”, Oakes continued.
He added that A-Checklist celebrities at Conan O’Brien’s vacation social gathering, who noticed Reiner’s habits simply hours earlier than the killings, might have a huge effect on the viability of an madness protection.
Witnesses on the social gathering described a blow-up argument between Reiner and his mother and father, and mentioned he was interrupting social gathering goer conversations on the bash.
“Did Reiner, hours earlier than the murders, appear obnoxious however cogent, or did he appear disconnected from actuality? That’s the essence of the madness take a look at in California.” says Oakes.
However Greene has no obligation to lift the difficulty on the arraignment, which is generally procedural and never the place proof is argued.
“The protection is completely free to plead not responsible now and maintain its mental-health technique below wraps. There’s no requirement that they tip their hand at this early stage,” the legal professional mentioned.
To date, Reiner’s plea has been postponed twice. The primary was when scorching shot lawyer Alan Jackson entered the case and wished extra time to speak together with his consumer.
Jackson dropped out of the case in courtroom seven days later, that transfer additional derailed a plea and put Greene within the driver’s seat as head legal professional on the case.
The December murders of Rob and Michelle Reiner shocked Hollywood to its core. Reiner was arrested the day after the bloody our bodies have been found.
He’s been locked up in LA’s county jail with no bail ever since.
