Murder in Los Angeles: Nick Reiner is said to have deliberately ambushed parents

The son of Hollywood couple Rob and Michele Reiner, Nick Reiner, is on trial for the murder of his parents. An indictment published on Wednesday lays out new allegations against the 32-year-old. Nick Reiner is said to have killed his parents with a knife in December last year. The victims, Rob Reiner (director and actor) and his wife Michele (photographer and producer), were found dead in their Los Angeles home on December 14th. Just a few hours later, her son Nick was arrested and charged with murder shortly afterwards. Nick Reiner pleaded not guilty in February. District Attorney Nathan Hochman emphasized that the act was a "grave betrayal by someone who was loved and valued by the very people he is accused of murdering." Hochman added: "We hope that the grand jury's indictment will bring us one step closer to a trial and justice in this case." If convicted, Nick Reiner faces a lengthy prison sentence, including the death penalty. A decision by the public prosecutor's office as to what punishment should be demanded is still pending. A motive for the crime is not yet publicly known. Nick Reiner, the second of three children, struggled with drug problems for years. As a teenager, he was in rehab several times and was temporarily homeless. The difficult relationship between Rob Reiner and his son was dealt with in the partly autobiographical film “Being Charlie – Back to Life” in 2016. (jah/AP/dpa)