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Scorsese’s Tribute and Legal Outlook Mark Latest Developments in Reiner Murder Case

Legal experts caution that an insanity plea is unlikely to succeed under California’s standard.

Overview

  • Martin Scorsese published a New York Times essay remembering Rob and Michele Reiner, calling their deaths “an obscenity, an abyss in lived reality.”
  • The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed both died from multiple sharp-force injuries after they were found at their Brentwood home on Dec. 14.
  • Nick Reiner, 32, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder with a special allegation of using a knife, is being held without bail at Twin Towers, and is due for arraignment on Jan. 7.
  • Legal analysts quoted in new coverage say jurors rarely accept insanity defenses in California, though mental-health evidence could be used to argue against premeditation or to mitigate potential penalties.
  • Fact-checkers at Snopes report several viral claims about the case are false or unsubstantiated, underscoring the need to rely on official records and verified reporting.