What happened today in court?published at 17:53 GMT
17:53 GMT
Regan Morris and Nardine Saad
Reporting from Los Angeles
Image source, ReutersImage caption,
Nick Reiner’s defence attorney Alan Jackson addresses a judge in downtown Los Angeles.
About an hour after Nick Reiner’s arraignment was scheduled to begin on Wednesday, the 32-year-old son of director Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner waived his right to a speedy arraignment, declining for now to enter a plea.
He is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the case.
Appearing in court in downtown Los Angeles – but away from the view of cameras inside the courtroom – Reiner only said “yes, your honour” when asked by Judge Theresa McGonigle if he understood he has the right to a speedy trial.
Media inside the courtroom could not see Reiner throughout the brief hearing because he was sitting in a corner out of sight. He wore what appeared to be a suicide prevention vest used to restrain people in custody.
Reiner was initially slated to make a court appearance the day before but had not been medically cleared to do so, his attorney and prosecutors have said.
The next arraignment hearing has been set for 7 January.
Speaking outside of the courthouse after the hearing on Wednesday, Reiner’s defence lawyer Alan Jackson said there are “very complex and serious issues that are associated with this case” that need to be thoroughly and carefully dealt with.
“We ask that during this process, you allow the system to move forward in the way that it was designed to move forward, not with a rush to judgement, not with jumping to conclusions, but with restraint and with dignity, and with the respect that this system and this process deserves, and that the family deserves,” Jackson said.