Update | Son of Hollywood director Rob Reiner to be charged with murder
· The Gleaner(AP) — Rob Reiner's son, Nick, will be charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the killing of his parents, Los Angeles County prosecutors said Tuesday.
Nick Reiner, 32, will be charged in the death of the 78-year-old actor and director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced at a news conference with Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell.
Prosecutors plan to file the charges, two counts of first degree murder special circumstances of multiple murders, later Tuesday. They will also include a special allegation that he used a dangerous weapon, a knife.
The announcement of the charges came two days after the couple was found dead from apparent stab wounds in their home in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. Nick Reiner was arrested on suspicion of the killing and jailed hours later.
Nick Reiner had been expected to make an initial court appearance earlier Tuesday, but his attorney Alan Jackson said he was not brought from the jail to the courthouse for medical reasons and the appearance would not come before Wednesday.
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Jackson did not comment further on the case, and Nick Reiner has not yet entered a plea.
Rob Reiner was the Emmy-winning star of the sitcom “All in the Family” who went on to direct films including “When Harry Met Sally...” and “The Princess Bride.” He was an outspoken liberal activist for decades.
Michele Singer Reiner was a photographer, movie producer and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. They had been married for 36 years.
Representatives for the Reiner family did not respond to requests for comment.
Rob Reiner was long one of the most prolific directors in Hollywood, and his work included some of the most memorable and endlessly watchable movies of the 1980s and ’90s, including “This is Spinal Tap” and “A Few Good Men.”
He met Michele Singer Reiner on the set of “When Harry Met Sally...,” and their meeting would inspire the film's shift to a happy ending, with stars Billy Crystal — one of Reiner's closest friends for decades — and Meg Ryan ending up together on New Year's Eve.
The Reiners were outspoken advocates for liberal causes and major Democratic donors.
US President Donald Trump on Monday blamed Rob Reiner’s outspoken opposition to the president for the actor-director’s killing, delivering the unsubstantiated claim in a social media post that seemed intent on decrying his opponents even in the face of a tragedy.