Nick Reiner, the son of legendary filmmaker Rob Reiner ("The Princess Bride," "When Harry Met Sally"), pleaded not guilty Monday to two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the killing of his parents at their Los Angeles home.
About two months after the slayings that shook Hollywood, Reiner appeared briefly in court. He denied two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his 78-year-old father and his 70-year-old mother, photographer and producer Michele Reiner.
The hearing took place after being postponed twice, following the sudden withdrawal of his original attorney and his replacement by a public defender.
Days after the killings, it was reported that Reiner was being held behind bars wearing a special suicide-prevention suit due to his fragile mental state. According to published reports, he struggled with drug addiction and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, receiving long-term treatment at a Los Angeles mental health center.
On Monday, the court ruled that Reiner would remain in custody without bail, as he has been since his arrest just hours after the killings in December. His mental condition was not mentioned during the hearing.
Reiner’s two siblings — Jake Reiner, 34, and Romy Reiner, 28, who according to reports found their father’s body — were not present in court. After his initial court appearance in December, the siblings released a joint statement describing the "unimaginable pain" following the "horrific and devastating loss of our parents."
Rob Reiner was considered one of the most influential and beloved figures in American cinema, with a long string of films that became classics, including "This Is Spinal Tap," "Stand by Me," "The Princess Bride," "When Harry Met Sally," "Misery" and "A Few Good Men." He first gained fame as an actor on the iconic television series "All in the Family." He was the son of legendary comedian and creator Carl Reiner.