Nick Reiner will not face death penalty if convicted of parents' murder, prosecutors say
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Nick Reiner has pleaded not guilty to murdering his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner. (AP: Chris Torres/ Pool )
In short:
Prosecutors say they will not pursue the death penalty against Nick Reiner, who is charged with murder over the deaths of parents Rob and Michele Reiner.
Rob Reiner was a prominent director and actor in Hollywood.
Nick Reiner was indicted last month over their murder, with the prosecution alleging he was lying in wait before attacking his parents.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney has announced his office will not to seek the death penalty against Nick Reiner, the son of Hollywood filmmaker Rob Reiner, who has pleaded not guilty to murdering his parents in their home in December.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman told reporters outside a downtown Los Angeles courthouse that prosecutors took into account the wishes of the surviving Reiner family members in reaching their decision.
The announcement came shortly before Nick Reiner, 33, was scheduled to appear for a pre-trial hearing where the judge is expected to set a preliminary trial date and consider various pleadings in the case.
Rob Reiner and his wife, photographer Michele Reiner, were found stabbed to death in their home in Los Angeles’ Brentwood neighbourhood.
Nick Reiner, the younger of their two sons, was arrested later that day and charged with first-degree murder.
The maximum penalty prosecutors said they would now seek against him is life in prison without parole.
Last month, Nick Reiner was indicted over his parents's murder.
Rob Reiner, second left, and his wife Michele, left, and children Jake, center, Romy, and Nick in 2014. (AP: Evan Agostini/Invision)
The indictment added the allegation that Nick Reiner was lying in wait before attacking his parents.
The grand jury, which had been meeting in secret, returned the indictment on July 20.
It was unsealed on August 12 when Nick Reiner, 32, entered a not guilty plea.
At the time, it was noted he would be eligible for the death penalty if prosecutors chose to pursue it.
The high-profile murders left Hollywood shocked and led the eldest son of Rob and Michele, Jake, to later state that the aftermath as being like a "living nightmare".
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