December 22, 2025 • 20 mins
In this episode of The Latest with Loren LoRosa, Loren breaks down the latest developments in the shocking case involving Nick Reiner, who has been charged in connection with the brutal killings of his parents, legendary filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Reiner.
Loren walks listeners through what we know so far—from Nick Reiner’s first court appearance and his high-profile defense attorney, Alan Jackson, to new reports alleging long-standing mental health struggles, substance abuse, and a schizophrenia diagnosis. As new legal details emerge, the central question becomes clear: will Nick Reiner plead not guilty by reason of insanity?
This episode explores what that defense actually means, the legal burden required to prove it, and how medical records, psychiatric treatment, and expert testimony could shape the outcome. Lauren also discusses the emotional impact on the surviving family, the public scrutiny surrounding the case, and whether an insanity defense is fair—or appropriate—in a crime of this magnitude.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
I'm a homegirl that knows a little bit about everything
and everybody.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
You know, if you don't lie about that. Right, Hey, y'all,
what's up.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
It's Laura l Rosa and this is the latest with
Laura de Rosa. This is your DELI dig on all
things pop culture, entertainment, news and all of the conversations
that shake the room.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
So today I want.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
To get into a very serious conversation surrounding the Nick
Reiner alleged killing of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michelle Reiner.
Rob Reiner for those who may not know, but I've
been seeing his name so much in the news because
he was killed by his son, Nick Ner, him and
his wife Michelle in their home not too long ago
(00:45):
in La They were found with reported slits to their throat,
literally found in their home by their daughter.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
But Rob Reiner was known for all in the family.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
He also directed I films like When Harry Met Sally,
The Princess Bride, A few good men. Uh, really big
in the political space as far as just commentate, commentating
on various things and activism and you know, some of
the things that he had pushed for were gun control,
child welfare. As a director the spinal tap as well
(01:20):
the American President. There is just a lot that he
has accomplished. So this story has been, you know, one
of the biggest stories in Hollywood over.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
The last few weeks following his death.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Now, just to recap a bit, because I know we
have not talked about it much here on the podcast.
Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle Reiner were found in
their home by their one of their daughters after an
alleged argument of some kind. In the beginning of this
you know, news breaking, it was said that they had
had an argument possibly same day, allegedly with their son,
(01:56):
Nick Reiner. But then there was more news that can
came out that said that potentially that argument happened the
night prior at Conan O'Brien Christmas party, where they had
got into an argument with their son, Nick Reiner, and
they had left the party, and you know, there was
like a disruption or another disruptance caused by Nick not
even related to his parents at that party. And there's
(02:18):
been a lot of conversation around the fact that it
was known that Nick Reiner suffered from different types of
substance abuse, drug abuse and you know, mental health issues,
and you know there has just been a very up
and down relationship between him and his parents because of
you know, those things He's Nick himself has talked about
(02:39):
being homeless at some points, and you know, various rehabs,
just just a bunch of different things throughout life. So
Nick Reiner was arrested and you know, he was charged
for the murders of his parents, and there has now
become a conversation about what his legal strategy will be.
So wanting to come here today, you know, as things
(03:00):
because I mean this story, I feel like every hour
there is a new update, there's a new exclusive report
sourced on you know, law enforcement, or sourced on family
and friends of the family or whoever that various media
outlets are reporting. So things are changing and moving and
(03:21):
the conversation is happening in so many different places literally
by the moment. But I thought that, you know, a
conversation right now because Nick Rener did appear in court
for the first time over the last week. He did
not inter plea whatsoever at his arraignment, and he does
have an attorney.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
His attorney is a powerhouse attorney.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Alan Jackson is the attorney who got Karen Reid off
of the homicide case.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
You guys may remember that case because.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
It also was a big, you know case that also
made headlines when she was Alisha had been driving under
the influence, backed up and hit a man who was
her boyfriend at the time that was also a cop.
And she was found not guilty on the serious charges,
but guilty on the lesser charges. And Alan Jackson was
actually the person that headed up her defense team, so
(04:10):
you know, he's a powerhouse attorney. All these things are happening,
and Nick Reiner doesn't show up the court the first
day to inter a plea, but shows up to court
the second day. They had him in a jacket of
sorts to kind of, I guess, subdue him a bit.
Per reports, Nick Reiner has been on a suicide watch.
(04:32):
I've yet to be able to confirm whether this in
the beginning was just protocol or if this was something
that was done because of you know, something that he said,
or like, you know, medical testing or whatever.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
But we do know that he underwent medical and mental evaluations.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
His attorney, Alan Jackson let us know outside of the
courthouse after that first day that Nick actually made it
to court, not the first day he was supposed to
be there. But so the second day of court, and
the first day nick Reiner actually made it to court,
his attorney had this to say about him not appearing
after missing medical testing. And I know we've talked about
this on a prior episode, but let's say it again now.
Most recent conversation was an exclusive report via TMZ. And
(05:13):
I found this report interesting because I know that you
know Harvey Harvey Levin, and you know a lot of
the people that work with him are attorneys, so they're
looking at this from a legal aspect, and at this point,
I think that's kind of the only way you can
look at it, because right now we're trying to figure
out what happens next, and whatever happens next definitely will
be something legal. The report says that nick Reiner had
(05:37):
reportedly been diagnosed with schizophrenia and his meds made him
dangerous to the point where he was basically out of
his mind or out of his head. Is with the
report alleges and TMZ alleges that they spoke to two
different sources who told them that in the weeks leading
up to the day he murdered his parents, Rob and
Michelle Reiner, nick Reiner was taking various medicines like a
(06:00):
medicine cocktail of some sort. The report continues to allege
that these medicines actually made him erotic and dangerous. They
then continue to go on and said that, according to
the two sources, at the same time, Nick Reiner was
under the care of psychiatrists for his mental illness, but
the month that the murders happened, these doctors were like
(06:24):
trying to get his cocktail, his medical you know, his
medicines that he was taking correct. They were trying to
get it to a point where he wouldn't be as
erratic in behavior.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
But it just wasn't working.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
I mean, that's not unnormal to hear, because a lot
of things with doctors, especially when it comes to Western
like when it comes to medicine, it's trial and error.
Like they give you things, they see how it works
with your body, they see how effective it is, and
then they either up dusages or they changed medicines altogether
until they get the cocktail correct. So this report also
(07:02):
talks about, you know, Nick Reiner going to a rehab facility.
They said that this rehab facility was like in the
upwards of like seventy thousand dollars a month, and that
this is a place that a lot of rich and
powerful parents send their kids to. Who have you know,
issues that fit what the rehab center focuses on. Now,
(07:24):
while all of this is happening, this report also alleges
that Nick Reiner was still abusing substances, whatever those substances were,
that he was still abusing substances allegedly, right, And because
of this, the conversation now is will Nick Reiner plead
not guilty by reason of a sanity? I think on
(07:46):
its face when you just hear how gruesome the murders
seem to have been. And we don't know all of
the full details, right, but to be a child, not
a child, he's a grown man. But to be you know,
to kill your parents, there has to be something that
like isn't connecting, Like you're not all the way there,
(08:07):
Like there's no way that you can argue that a
person that is able to commit I mean, I feel
like murder in general, there's a sense of especially if
it's if the malice is there, like if there's an
intent or premeditation or you know, even in the moment.
Sometimes I think that there is definitely an argument around
like what your mental does in that thought process, but
(08:29):
for it to be a parents like your parents, Like
what the hell? So right now the conversation, you know,
based on these reports that are being had or that
is being had, is will Nick Reiner plead not guilty
by reason of insanity?
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Now?
Speaker 1 (08:50):
This defense is basically defense that requires proof that Nick
Reiner didn't understand the nature and the quality of his actions.
So I did say, you know, just research on what
the burden of proof for a defense like this means.
And a burden of proof is basically like what is
my responsibility, Like what do I have to do? Like
(09:11):
what is needed for me to convince the judge, the
jury whoever, that what I'm saying, like what I'm pleading
or what I'm alleging is the reason why is exactly
what they'll believe by the end of my pleading. So
what I found is and I was looking up basically
like what is the hardest part of proving something like this?
(09:32):
It says the hardest part of proving not guilty by
any reason of proven not guilty by reason of insanity
is meeting the strict legal standard by demonstrating with clear
and convincing evidence that a severe mental disease at the
exact moment of the crime prevented the defendant from understanding
their actions were wrong, or conforming their conduct to the law,
or basically like anything that made sense, or you knowing
(09:57):
what you were not supposed to do. You have to
be able to prove that in that very moment your
mental illness or the substances that cause that mental illness
or whatever it is that you're going to you know,
put together in this conversation of like, here's why I
didn't understand that in that very moment it was affecting you.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Some of the.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Challenges that you know, other defendants face when they go
up against this in court is burdening a proof.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
So again, it's just proving you know at that time.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
I think, you know, if if you're a person like
you know, Nick Reiner, if this report is true, and
you have medical records showing that you have you know,
documents and notes from the psychiatrist you've been working with,
you have all the information about the medicines and with
those side effects and causes or you know, negative causes
(10:47):
or reactions to those medicines, can do just basic study
on schizophrenia and I remember, you know, when we were
in court.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
For the Diddy trial.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
One of the key witnesses in that trial was an
expert witness who focused on mental health and cognitive thinking
and like kind of like a therapist ish kind of,
but she was more so like a person who studied
the behaviors of abusers and studied the behaviors of victims, right,
(11:17):
And the reason why she was so important as a witness,
and she didn't see anything herself. It's not like she
was Ditty's psychi, or she was Ditty's therapist, or she
was providing therapy to any of the victims. She literally
had never seen, heard, or met any of the people involved.
But the reason why she was so important in the
(11:37):
defense Dinny's team was trying to make it where what
she said on that stand couldn't be heard by the
jury is because she was able to really explain to
you the mind behind a lot of this stuff, behind
why a woman will return back to an abuser, you know,
why a woman would cover up and claim love and
(12:01):
like all the different things that your mind can't really
like fathom because you're in a different mental space. She
was able to put it in very like one plus
one equals to terms, but also had the medicine in
the research to back it up. And it seems to me,
you know, if these reports are correct, if I'm an attorney,
(12:22):
you almost have like you have everything you need to
be able to lay this out. Now, there were a
few things that struck me, you know, just in this
past week from following the Rhiner case, and when I
saw these things, I'm like, oh, he is not going
to plead guilty because number one, when Nick Reiner finally
made it to court, he didn't take a plea deal.
(12:44):
It's very clear that police are one hundred percent confident
that they have you know, even again, everything is alleged.
He is innocent until proven guilty. But if I'm reading
this case and I'm reading the through line, there is
nothing here that doesn't show me that the government is
not sure that they have the person they believe killed.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Rob Reiner and Michelle Reiner, and they believe that it
is Nick Reiner.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
Right, So with evidence being that strong, for your attorney
to then come into court and be very confident about, hey,
we need more time. We need this to be continued
for about another month or so. We'll get back to you,
let's have a conversation and you not take a plea deal.
Off rip and just make sure you're not about to
(13:27):
spend the rest of your life in behind bars, which
I don't see how that would even be possible. But basically,
just try and fight for whatever rest of your life
you think you about to have. After something like this,
I was like, Okay, I don't think he's going to
plead guilty in this report. Based on this report, you know,
and everything that the sources are telling TMZ is lining
(13:48):
up that way.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Not only did Nick Rener not.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Take a plea deal his first day in court, but
his attorney axd for more time, right, and.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
They waive any right to anything speedy.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
So for me, I'm sitting back and I'm like, Okay,
that means his attorney wants to take a lot of
time and look at like his medical records, his mental
health battles and records, family battles, his life and daily
battles that you know, everything that could have compiled to
cause him to basically snap because he's trying to figure
(14:24):
out what the best defense is. Like basically, it's like,
you know your back is up against the defense, right,
you know that y'all might not make it out unscathed
at all, because, again, like I said, the evidence is here.
There's reports right now that they're in the hotel room
that Nick Reiner checked into, which he's on video right
checking into. And mind you, when he checked in there.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Was no blood on him.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
But there's reports of blood found in a hotel. You
have his sibling who shows up at the parents' house,
who finds the parents dead, who let police know this
is who I think did it, and he's very dangerous. Right,
you have everything there, But it seems to me like
his attorney is just taking the time that he needs
(15:10):
to gather enough to make it where when the ball drops,
because it will in this case, I think it's very straightforward.
We were about to see happen. He's facing, you know,
life in prison or the death penalty. And let me
not say it is clear. When I say that it's clear,
I just mean we know he's going to deal like
a period, right, and he's gonna do some time. Right,
(15:34):
They're gonna make a decision on the death penalty or
not a little bit later. But and the reason why
that they're even able to consider the death penalty is
because there's like special conditions in the prosecutor in a
press conference he talked about the special conditions and he
talked about how it basically is because there were two
murders that were committed and the weapon that was used,
like the type of weapon that was used. So basically
(15:55):
these conditions are things that like kind of up the crime.
It makes it where heinous, so they're able to consider
the ultimate penalty, but they haven't considered that yet. But
basically his attorneys it's taking more time to figure out, Okay,
this is coming, so when it hits, how can we
soften the blow.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
Now?
Speaker 1 (16:13):
I do think that, you know, in arguing something like this,
like this is going to be so difficult for his family,
Like God blessed his family, and I know that, like
when you're dealing with mental health issues, this is not
something that's new. It seems like, you know, there have
been some you know, things that their family has dealt
with around this for some time, but it's very different
(16:35):
to have to publicly watch this all play out and
watch your sibling who is you know, there's been reports
that he's like in a daze at this point. You know,
I've read reports across outlets recently that basically say he
hasn't even fully processed what he did at this point
because of just his mental state. Right, So it's like,
(16:58):
if I'm the sibling, my mom my dad are no
longer here, I also now no longer have my brother
in all of the and he's literally not even connecting
what actually happened. So I don't It's like, how do
you ever get comfort in a situation like this? Like,
I don't think you ever. I've never lost someone as
(17:18):
close to me from something as heinous as this. But
you know, I've heard stories of people who feel like, okay,
but at least we know the person responsible for this
is behind bars. But it got to be completely different
when the person responsible is your brother, who also per
reports doesn't even understand fully what he just did. I
(17:43):
want to hear from you guys, you know, predictions on
what you think may happen and how this may play out,
you know, over the next few weeks, because they ask
for things to be continued until January. Over the next
few weeks, we'll hear a lot more about what legal
strategy may be. You know what Nick Reiner's past has
been like, and we've been seeing and hearing so much
(18:05):
about that what his past has been, like, I mean,
at this point, we also I'm sure we'll probably hear
I don't know how private the family plans to keep this.
I know they made a statement and just kind of
spoke out about how difficult things are for them right now.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
But you know, the funerals.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
Of Rob and Michelle Reiner, who Hollywood loved, like, I
saw so many people speaking out on behalf of like
Rob Riiner, how great of a person he was. I
saw Tech Campbell say that she gave him his start,
not that they were, like, you know, the closest of people,
but she's one of the people that he's one of
the people that put her into the comedy lane. And
(18:43):
then you have you know, I don't know, it just
it seems like the world kind of took a pall
to just talk about how great of a man Rob
Reiner was when all of this happened. But at the
same time, I also feel like, because this has become
the story, people have dug so deep into like everything personal.
(19:06):
So I don't even know how keeping a funeral private,
and it's such as messed up because it's such a
horrible gruesome situation. But it's such a highly publicized news
story too, so I'm sure we'll probably hear some more
about that as well. But you guys, you know, just
let me think. Let me know what you are thinking
around this. Is it even fair? Like if Nick Reiner
(19:28):
is found guilty for the murders of his parents, is
it even fair for him to be able to plead
not guilty because of insanity? Because you know, in doing that,
what they're trying to do is make it where a
lot of the harshness of the penalty is taken off
(19:49):
to the table.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
Do y'all think that's fair? I want to hear from y'all.
At the end of the day, there's always a lot
to talk about. I'm mona Rosa. Y'all know we will
get into it here every single time, my low ride.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
I appreciate you guys for joining me to talk about it,
because y'all could be anywhere with anybody, which I choose
to be right here.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
I'm lorda Rosa. I will catch you guys in my
next episode.
I'm a homegirl that knows a little bit about everything
and everybody.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
You know, if you don't lie about that. Right, Hey, y'all,
what's up.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
It's Laura l Rosa and this is the latest with
Laura de Rosa. This is your DELI dig on all
things pop culture, entertainment, news and all of the conversations
that shake the room.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
So today I want.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
To get into a very serious conversation surrounding the Nick
Reiner alleged killing of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michelle Reiner.
Rob Reiner for those who may not know, but I've
been seeing his name so much in the news because
he was killed by his son, Nick Ner, him and
his wife Michelle in their home not too long ago
(00:45):
in La They were found with reported slits to their throat,
literally found in their home by their daughter.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
But Rob Reiner was known for all in the family.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
He also directed I films like When Harry Met Sally,
The Princess Bride, A few good men. Uh, really big
in the political space as far as just commentate, commentating
on various things and activism and you know, some of
the things that he had pushed for were gun control,
child welfare. As a director the spinal tap as well
(01:20):
the American President. There is just a lot that he
has accomplished. So this story has been, you know, one
of the biggest stories in Hollywood over.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
The last few weeks following his death.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Now, just to recap a bit, because I know we
have not talked about it much here on the podcast.
Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle Reiner were found in
their home by their one of their daughters after an
alleged argument of some kind. In the beginning of this
you know, news breaking, it was said that they had
had an argument possibly same day, allegedly with their son,
(01:56):
Nick Reiner. But then there was more news that can
came out that said that potentially that argument happened the
night prior at Conan O'Brien Christmas party, where they had
got into an argument with their son, Nick Reiner, and
they had left the party, and you know, there was
like a disruption or another disruptance caused by Nick not
even related to his parents at that party. And there's
(02:18):
been a lot of conversation around the fact that it
was known that Nick Reiner suffered from different types of
substance abuse, drug abuse and you know, mental health issues,
and you know there has just been a very up
and down relationship between him and his parents because of
you know, those things He's Nick himself has talked about
(02:39):
being homeless at some points, and you know, various rehabs,
just just a bunch of different things throughout life. So
Nick Reiner was arrested and you know, he was charged
for the murders of his parents, and there has now
become a conversation about what his legal strategy will be.
So wanting to come here today, you know, as things
(03:00):
because I mean this story, I feel like every hour
there is a new update, there's a new exclusive report
sourced on you know, law enforcement, or sourced on family
and friends of the family or whoever that various media
outlets are reporting. So things are changing and moving and
(03:21):
the conversation is happening in so many different places literally
by the moment. But I thought that, you know, a
conversation right now because Nick Rener did appear in court
for the first time over the last week. He did
not inter plea whatsoever at his arraignment, and he does
have an attorney.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
His attorney is a powerhouse attorney.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Alan Jackson is the attorney who got Karen Reid off
of the homicide case.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
You guys may remember that case because.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
It also was a big, you know case that also
made headlines when she was Alisha had been driving under
the influence, backed up and hit a man who was
her boyfriend at the time that was also a cop.
And she was found not guilty on the serious charges,
but guilty on the lesser charges. And Alan Jackson was
actually the person that headed up her defense team, so
(04:10):
you know, he's a powerhouse attorney. All these things are happening,
and Nick Reiner doesn't show up the court the first
day to inter a plea, but shows up to court
the second day. They had him in a jacket of
sorts to kind of, I guess, subdue him a bit.
Per reports, Nick Reiner has been on a suicide watch.
(04:32):
I've yet to be able to confirm whether this in
the beginning was just protocol or if this was something
that was done because of you know, something that he said,
or like, you know, medical testing or whatever.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
But we do know that he underwent medical and mental evaluations.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
His attorney, Alan Jackson let us know outside of the
courthouse after that first day that Nick actually made it
to court, not the first day he was supposed to
be there. But so the second day of court, and
the first day nick Reiner actually made it to court,
his attorney had this to say about him not appearing
after missing medical testing. And I know we've talked about
this on a prior episode, but let's say it again now.
Most recent conversation was an exclusive report via TMZ. And
(05:13):
I found this report interesting because I know that you
know Harvey Harvey Levin, and you know a lot of
the people that work with him are attorneys, so they're
looking at this from a legal aspect, and at this point,
I think that's kind of the only way you can
look at it, because right now we're trying to figure
out what happens next, and whatever happens next definitely will
be something legal. The report says that nick Reiner had
(05:37):
reportedly been diagnosed with schizophrenia and his meds made him
dangerous to the point where he was basically out of
his mind or out of his head. Is with the
report alleges and TMZ alleges that they spoke to two
different sources who told them that in the weeks leading
up to the day he murdered his parents, Rob and
Michelle Reiner, nick Reiner was taking various medicines like a
(06:00):
medicine cocktail of some sort. The report continues to allege
that these medicines actually made him erotic and dangerous. They
then continue to go on and said that, according to
the two sources, at the same time, Nick Reiner was
under the care of psychiatrists for his mental illness, but
the month that the murders happened, these doctors were like
(06:24):
trying to get his cocktail, his medical you know, his
medicines that he was taking correct. They were trying to
get it to a point where he wouldn't be as
erratic in behavior.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
But it just wasn't working.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
I mean, that's not unnormal to hear, because a lot
of things with doctors, especially when it comes to Western
like when it comes to medicine, it's trial and error.
Like they give you things, they see how it works
with your body, they see how effective it is, and
then they either up dusages or they changed medicines altogether
until they get the cocktail correct. So this report also
(07:02):
talks about, you know, Nick Reiner going to a rehab facility.
They said that this rehab facility was like in the
upwards of like seventy thousand dollars a month, and that
this is a place that a lot of rich and
powerful parents send their kids to. Who have you know,
issues that fit what the rehab center focuses on. Now,
(07:24):
while all of this is happening, this report also alleges
that Nick Reiner was still abusing substances, whatever those substances were,
that he was still abusing substances allegedly, right, And because
of this, the conversation now is will Nick Reiner plead
not guilty by reason of a sanity? I think on
(07:46):
its face when you just hear how gruesome the murders
seem to have been. And we don't know all of
the full details, right, but to be a child, not
a child, he's a grown man. But to be you know,
to kill your parents, there has to be something that
like isn't connecting, Like you're not all the way there,
(08:07):
Like there's no way that you can argue that a
person that is able to commit I mean, I feel
like murder in general, there's a sense of especially if
it's if the malice is there, like if there's an
intent or premeditation or you know, even in the moment.
Sometimes I think that there is definitely an argument around
like what your mental does in that thought process, but
(08:29):
for it to be a parents like your parents, Like
what the hell? So right now the conversation, you know,
based on these reports that are being had or that
is being had, is will Nick Reiner plead not guilty
by reason of insanity?
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Now?
Speaker 1 (08:50):
This defense is basically defense that requires proof that Nick
Reiner didn't understand the nature and the quality of his actions.
So I did say, you know, just research on what
the burden of proof for a defense like this means.
And a burden of proof is basically like what is
my responsibility, Like what do I have to do? Like
(09:11):
what is needed for me to convince the judge, the
jury whoever, that what I'm saying, like what I'm pleading
or what I'm alleging is the reason why is exactly
what they'll believe by the end of my pleading. So
what I found is and I was looking up basically
like what is the hardest part of proving something like this?
(09:32):
It says the hardest part of proving not guilty by
any reason of proven not guilty by reason of insanity
is meeting the strict legal standard by demonstrating with clear
and convincing evidence that a severe mental disease at the
exact moment of the crime prevented the defendant from understanding
their actions were wrong, or conforming their conduct to the law,
or basically like anything that made sense, or you knowing
(09:57):
what you were not supposed to do. You have to
be able to prove that in that very moment your
mental illness or the substances that cause that mental illness
or whatever it is that you're going to you know,
put together in this conversation of like, here's why I
didn't understand that in that very moment it was affecting you.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Some of the.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Challenges that you know, other defendants face when they go
up against this in court is burdening a proof.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
So again, it's just proving you know at that time.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
I think, you know, if if you're a person like
you know, Nick Reiner, if this report is true, and
you have medical records showing that you have you know,
documents and notes from the psychiatrist you've been working with,
you have all the information about the medicines and with
those side effects and causes or you know, negative causes
(10:47):
or reactions to those medicines, can do just basic study
on schizophrenia and I remember, you know, when we were
in court.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
For the Diddy trial.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
One of the key witnesses in that trial was an
expert witness who focused on mental health and cognitive thinking
and like kind of like a therapist ish kind of,
but she was more so like a person who studied
the behaviors of abusers and studied the behaviors of victims, right,
(11:17):
And the reason why she was so important as a witness,
and she didn't see anything herself. It's not like she
was Ditty's psychi, or she was Ditty's therapist, or she
was providing therapy to any of the victims. She literally
had never seen, heard, or met any of the people involved.
But the reason why she was so important in the
(11:37):
defense Dinny's team was trying to make it where what
she said on that stand couldn't be heard by the
jury is because she was able to really explain to
you the mind behind a lot of this stuff, behind
why a woman will return back to an abuser, you know,
why a woman would cover up and claim love and
(12:01):
like all the different things that your mind can't really
like fathom because you're in a different mental space. She
was able to put it in very like one plus
one equals to terms, but also had the medicine in
the research to back it up. And it seems to me,
you know, if these reports are correct, if I'm an attorney,
(12:22):
you almost have like you have everything you need to
be able to lay this out. Now, there were a
few things that struck me, you know, just in this
past week from following the Rhiner case, and when I
saw these things, I'm like, oh, he is not going
to plead guilty because number one, when Nick Reiner finally
made it to court, he didn't take a plea deal.
(12:44):
It's very clear that police are one hundred percent confident
that they have you know, even again, everything is alleged.
He is innocent until proven guilty. But if I'm reading
this case and I'm reading the through line, there is
nothing here that doesn't show me that the government is
not sure that they have the person they believe killed.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Rob Reiner and Michelle Reiner, and they believe that it
is Nick Reiner.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
Right, So with evidence being that strong, for your attorney
to then come into court and be very confident about, hey,
we need more time. We need this to be continued
for about another month or so. We'll get back to you,
let's have a conversation and you not take a plea deal.
Off rip and just make sure you're not about to
(13:27):
spend the rest of your life in behind bars, which
I don't see how that would even be possible. But basically,
just try and fight for whatever rest of your life
you think you about to have. After something like this,
I was like, Okay, I don't think he's going to
plead guilty in this report. Based on this report, you know,
and everything that the sources are telling TMZ is lining
(13:48):
up that way.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Not only did Nick Rener not.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Take a plea deal his first day in court, but
his attorney axd for more time, right, and.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
They waive any right to anything speedy.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
So for me, I'm sitting back and I'm like, Okay,
that means his attorney wants to take a lot of
time and look at like his medical records, his mental
health battles and records, family battles, his life and daily
battles that you know, everything that could have compiled to
cause him to basically snap because he's trying to figure
(14:24):
out what the best defense is. Like basically, it's like,
you know your back is up against the defense, right,
you know that y'all might not make it out unscathed
at all, because, again, like I said, the evidence is here.
There's reports right now that they're in the hotel room
that Nick Reiner checked into, which he's on video right
checking into. And mind you, when he checked in there.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Was no blood on him.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
But there's reports of blood found in a hotel. You
have his sibling who shows up at the parents' house,
who finds the parents dead, who let police know this
is who I think did it, and he's very dangerous. Right,
you have everything there, But it seems to me like
his attorney is just taking the time that he needs
(15:10):
to gather enough to make it where when the ball drops,
because it will in this case, I think it's very straightforward.
We were about to see happen. He's facing, you know,
life in prison or the death penalty. And let me
not say it is clear. When I say that it's clear,
I just mean we know he's going to deal like
a period, right, and he's gonna do some time. Right,
(15:34):
They're gonna make a decision on the death penalty or
not a little bit later. But and the reason why
that they're even able to consider the death penalty is
because there's like special conditions in the prosecutor in a
press conference he talked about the special conditions and he
talked about how it basically is because there were two
murders that were committed and the weapon that was used,
like the type of weapon that was used. So basically
(15:55):
these conditions are things that like kind of up the crime.
It makes it where heinous, so they're able to consider
the ultimate penalty, but they haven't considered that yet. But
basically his attorneys it's taking more time to figure out, Okay,
this is coming, so when it hits, how can we
soften the blow.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
Now?
Speaker 1 (16:13):
I do think that, you know, in arguing something like this,
like this is going to be so difficult for his family,
Like God blessed his family, and I know that, like
when you're dealing with mental health issues, this is not
something that's new. It seems like, you know, there have
been some you know, things that their family has dealt
with around this for some time, but it's very different
(16:35):
to have to publicly watch this all play out and
watch your sibling who is you know, there's been reports
that he's like in a daze at this point. You know,
I've read reports across outlets recently that basically say he
hasn't even fully processed what he did at this point
because of just his mental state. Right, So it's like,
(16:58):
if I'm the sibling, my mom my dad are no
longer here, I also now no longer have my brother
in all of the and he's literally not even connecting
what actually happened. So I don't It's like, how do
you ever get comfort in a situation like this? Like,
I don't think you ever. I've never lost someone as
(17:18):
close to me from something as heinous as this. But
you know, I've heard stories of people who feel like, okay,
but at least we know the person responsible for this
is behind bars. But it got to be completely different
when the person responsible is your brother, who also per
reports doesn't even understand fully what he just did. I
(17:43):
want to hear from you guys, you know, predictions on
what you think may happen and how this may play out,
you know, over the next few weeks, because they ask
for things to be continued until January. Over the next
few weeks, we'll hear a lot more about what legal
strategy may be. You know what Nick Reiner's past has
been like, and we've been seeing and hearing so much
(18:05):
about that what his past has been, like, I mean,
at this point, we also I'm sure we'll probably hear
I don't know how private the family plans to keep this.
I know they made a statement and just kind of
spoke out about how difficult things are for them right now.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
But you know, the funerals.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
Of Rob and Michelle Reiner, who Hollywood loved, like, I
saw so many people speaking out on behalf of like
Rob Riiner, how great of a person he was. I
saw Tech Campbell say that she gave him his start,
not that they were, like, you know, the closest of people,
but she's one of the people that he's one of
the people that put her into the comedy lane. And
(18:43):
then you have you know, I don't know, it just
it seems like the world kind of took a pall
to just talk about how great of a man Rob
Reiner was when all of this happened. But at the
same time, I also feel like, because this has become
the story, people have dug so deep into like everything personal.
(19:06):
So I don't even know how keeping a funeral private,
and it's such as messed up because it's such a
horrible gruesome situation. But it's such a highly publicized news
story too, so I'm sure we'll probably hear some more
about that as well. But you guys, you know, just
let me think. Let me know what you are thinking
around this. Is it even fair? Like if Nick Reiner
(19:28):
is found guilty for the murders of his parents, is
it even fair for him to be able to plead
not guilty because of insanity? Because you know, in doing that,
what they're trying to do is make it where a
lot of the harshness of the penalty is taken off
(19:49):
to the table.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
Do y'all think that's fair? I want to hear from y'all.
At the end of the day, there's always a lot
to talk about. I'm mona Rosa. Y'all know we will
get into it here every single time, my low ride.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
I appreciate you guys for joining me to talk about it,
because y'all could be anywhere with anybody, which I choose
to be right here.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
I'm lorda Rosa. I will catch you guys in my
next episode.
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