Featured Image Credit: Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images / Eric Thayer / POOL / AFP via Getty Images
Topics: Celebrity, Crime, Los Angeles, News, Rob Reiner, US News
Niamh Shackleton
Topics: Celebrity, Crime, Los Angeles, News, Rob Reiner, US News
Nick Reiner has acquired the services of a new lawyer after Alan Jackson removed himself from the case.
Yesterday (January 7), a US judge ruled to delay Reiner's arraignment in the killing of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, after his high-profile defence lawyer asked to be replaced.
If Reiner is found guilty of the murder of his famous parents, he will face lifetime imprisonment or possibly the death penalty.
Speaking after the hearing at the Los Angeles Superior Court, Jackson told the press: "Circumstances beyond my control, but more importantly circumstances beyond Nick's control, have made it impossible for us to continue our representation.
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"I'm legally and ethically prohibited from explaining the reasons why," he added.
Reiner's arraignment has since been rescheduled for February 23.
As Jackson was a private lawyer, there has been some speculation that Reiner could not afford his services, therefore had to go with a government-funded lawyer instead, says the Los Angeles Times.
Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor who is not involved in the Reiner case, said to the news outlet: "Either Nick can’t pay him or they disagreed on strategy."
Jackson has now been replaced with Kimberley Greene, who is part of Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office.
Greene got a law degree from Loyola Law School, per her LinkedIn profile, and is believed to have been an attorney for around 19 years.
Greene was grilled outside the court by the press in the wake of the news that she'd be taking over as Reiner's lawyer.
At the time of the interview she said she'd only spoken to the 32-year-old 'for about 30 seconds this morning' and confirmed that she hadn't spoken to other members of the family.
"We've had no contact with the family and I don't think that they were aware that this was going on," Greene told reporters, per Fox News Digital.
LA County Public Defender Ricardo Garcia also addressed the press, he said: "We are incredibly sorry and understand the pain and suffering the Reiner family are going through at this time, as well as the entire Los Angeles community."
He added that they'd only learnt the day prior that they'd be taking over Reiner's case.
A spokesperson for the Reiner family has addressed the recent news, telling Reuters: "[The family] have the utmost trust in the legal process and will not comment further on matters related to the legal proceedings."
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