Nick Reiner has spent some of his family money on murder defense, lawyers say

LOS ANGELES — Nick Reiner has paid for at least part of his murder defense with money set aside for him by the parents he’s accused of killing — and he argues he’s due even more, probate lawyers revealed Monday. Reiner, 32, wasn’t in court as attorneys argued over his right to the $1.63 million in a trust fund acclaimed director Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner created for him. His parents were fatally stabbed in their home in Los Angeles’ Brentwood neighborhood in December. Reiner has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder with special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and lying in wait. Anita Wu, an attorney representing Reiner’s probate interests, revealed that $200,000 of the trust has been spent, which includes an undisclosed amount for his previous defense attorney, Alan Jackson. Jackson, a high-profile defense lawyer, resigned from Reiner’s case in January, citing “circumstances beyond our control.” But Jackson was in court Monday, standing alongside Wu, signaling that he could rejoin Reiner’s team if Reiner’s finances can be resolved. A trustee representing the trust fund who took over duties just last month said she opposes any money going to Reiner, citing California’s “slayer statute,” which bars killers from financially benefiting from their crimes. Reiner was set to receive the full $1.63 million at age 35. He was due $558,000 at age 30, but he elected not to take that money out of the trust, lawyers said. Reiner’s attorneys insist he’s entitled to access to that money because he hasn’t been convicted of any crimes pertaining to his parents’ deaths. “The main thing to take away from today’s hearing and moving forward is that Nick Reiner is very much entitled to his own money, his own funds, and that’s what this process is about,” Jackson told reporters outside court. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Ruben Garcia didn’t rule on any of the matters and ordered both sides back to court on Oct. 23.