Nick Reiner: What "Not Guilty" Really Means in a Case Like This

Two words in a Los Angeles courtroom today. Not guilty. Entered by Nick Reiner's public defender as he sat slumped behind glass, charged with stabbing both of his parents to death.

Rob Reiner. Michele Singer Reiner. Found in their bedroom with multiple stab wounds on the first night of Hanukkah. Their 32-year-old son arrested the same day, now facing two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances.

Today's plea triggered the expected outrage. But here's what most people don't understand: that plea wasn't a defense. It was a door. The real strategy hasn't been revealed yet.

California's system requires defendants pursuing insanity defenses to enter dual pleas, triggering bifurcated trials where guilt and sanity are determined separately. Today was procedural. The psychiatric evaluations are ongoing. The defense is still deciding which path to take.

Three options remain open. Full insanity under M'Naghten—proving Nick didn't know what he was doing or that it was wrong. Diminished actuality—using his documented schizoaffective disorder to challenge the premeditation required for first-degree murder. Or incompetence to stand trial—arguing he can't participate in his own defense right now.

Legal experts are skeptical about full insanity. Nick was at a Christmas party hours before the killings, arguing with his father in front of witnesses. If you can argue, you're not legally insane.

The more likely play? Reduced charges. Second-degree murder. Manslaughter. A different name for what happened, and different consequences.

April 29th. Preliminary hearing. The real fight begins.

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This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.

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