Nick Reiner will not face the death penalty if he is convicted of killing his parents, prosecutors in Los Angeles have announced.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said prosecutors will instead seek a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Nick Reiner avoids possible death sentence
The decision was announced as Nick Reiner prepares for another stage in the high-profile case.
Prosecutors had previously charged him with two counts of first-degree murder.
The charges relate to the deaths of his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner.
Hochman said his office considered both aggravating and mitigating factors before making the decision.
Prosecutors also consulted the victims’ family, law enforcement officials and others involved in the case.
Reiner’s siblings opposed death penalty
Hochman said Nick Reiner’s siblings, Jake and Romy Reiner, made their views on the death penalty clear.
The district attorney said their position was considered before prosecutors decided not to seek capital punishment.
The decision means a conviction would not result in a death sentence.
Instead, Reiner could spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Reiner has pleaded not guilty
Nick Reiner has pleaded not guilty to the murder charges.
Prosecutors allege that he killed his parents at their home in Los Angeles in December.
The indictment also includes special circumstances involving multiple murders and an allegation that the killings were carried out while lying in wait.
Prosecutors also allege that a knife was used as a deadly weapon.
Reiner remains in custody without bail.
The allegations have not been proven in court.
Court hearing focuses on grand jury records
Reiner is due back in court for a hearing involving the possible unsealing of grand jury transcripts.
His siblings have strongly opposed making the records public.
According to Hochman, they believe releasing details about their parents’ deaths would cause additional trauma and harm.
Prosecutors have left the final decision on the transcripts to the court.
Trial is not expected soon
A trial date has not yet been set.
Hochman said he does not expect the trial to take place before 2027.
He added that prosecutors would be ready to proceed when the defence is prepared.
The death penalty decision therefore changes the possible outcome if Reiner is convicted.
However, he still faces the possibility of spending the rest of his life behind bars.
California still has the death penalty, but executions have been under a state moratorium since 2019.
Source: abc News
