Ooops! Nick Reiner may have to get his funding from somewhere else now.
Rob Reiner’s son, who is currently behind bars for the alleged murder of the late filmmaker and his wife, will not get to access his million-dollar trust fund due to the nature of the crime he has now been officially charged with.
Nick Reiner requested access to his $1.5 million trust fund back in June, noting that he needed the money to offset legal fees as he continues to fight the murder charges in court.
The late Hollywood icon’s son’s request to use his trust fund was blocked by a trustee who cited the statute in the documents that banned him from inheriting the money left behind by his parents.
As explained by Justia Law, the statute bars anyone who intentionally and feloniously causes the death of another person from receiving any property or financial benefit from the deceased’s estate. The statute explained that the accused will also not get assets passed through a will or a trust established by or for the deceased.
Attorney Lauriann Wright, representing professional fiduciary Jodi Pais Montgomery, noted in the filing that California law does not allow someone accused of killing a person to use any potential inheritance from the victim to pay for their criminal defense.
As noted by The New York Times, Wright explained that Nick’s siblings Romy and Jake Reiner are now set to receive his portion of the trust fund. The attorney clarified that while Nick is innocent until proven guilty, releasing the funds to him would be irreversible if he is indeed found guilty of committing the murders.
The 32-Year-Old Was Indicted In Parents’ Deaths As Prosecutors Unveil New Theory Of Attack
3On August 12, The Blast reported that a Los Angeles grand jury indicted Nick on two counts of first-degree murder, and also introduced a significant new angle to the case. Nick got the special circumstance allegation from prosecutors who claimed that he committed the gruesome murders by “lying in wait.”
Nick was accused of executing the crime with a dangerous, deadly weapon, precisely a knife. The appearance in court came on Wednesday, August 12, after the grand jury indictment, which was returned on July 20, was unsealed.
Although Nick pleaded not guilty to the new charges, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman described the alleged killings as an extraordinary betrayal of two people who loved and trusted their son. He revealed that the prosecutors hope the grand jury indictment moves the case closer to trial and ultimately toward justice.
Nick Reiner‘s Trust Fund Battle May Reunite Him With Former Defense Attorney
Prior to the decision of the trustees to finally cite the statute, two legal experts had weighed in on the situation. According to former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani and California trust attorney Jeff Condon, the murder charges alone would not automatically set off the slayer statute. However, his opponents may insist it should.
As stated by The Blast, Rahmani argued that Nick could access part of the money because the trust fund used an age-based distribution system. Nick was entitled to half of the $1.5 million at 30, then the second half at 35; going by that, he already unlocked the first portion before his parents’ death, as he is currently 32 and the death happened when he was 31.
If Nick is given the half, he reportedly plans to rehire his former attorney Alan Jackson, who withdrew from his case in January due to funding issues. Jackson is also ready to return to Nick’s defense team as soon as he clears his financial restraints.
The Screenwriter May Face The Possibility Of Life Imprisonment Without Parole
3The new allegation provides a potentially important window into prosecutors’ theory of how the killings occurred, although authorities have yet to reveal the evidence behind it publicly.
A former prosecutor, Dmitry Gorin, explained in an interview with The Los Angeles Times that prosecutors may argue Nick planned the murder of Rob and Michele Reiner in advance, and struck when they were vulnerable.
If the evidence backs that up, it could make the case much more serious and help prosecutors prove that the killings were planned. The special circumstances allegations also increase the risk of punishment, as Nick could now potentially face life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.
Prosecutors are, however, yet to decide on seeking capital punishment, as law enforcement is also yet to publicly identify a possible motive for the killings. Beyond adding new allegations, the grand jury indictment changes how the case will proceed.
Nick had been scheduled for a preliminary hearing, where prosecutors would have been able to present evidence in open court before the judge to hear if there was enough to go to trial.
The indictment now allows prosecutors to skip that stage and not subject witnesses to giving testimony publicly at a preliminary hearing, hence keeping potentially crucial evidence out of public view until later in the case.
Nick Reiner’s Health Behind Bars Raised Concerns
Aside from his inability to access his trust fund, the screenwriter has also experienced no contact from his siblings and most of his family except his aunt, who has reportedly stood by him since the case began. Nick is currently held at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles, where his physical appearance has raised pressing concerns.
Insiders claim that the 32-year-old appeared to have lost a significant amount of weight and looks significantly different with a shaved head and a frail appearance. Another source from prison suggested that Nick’s meds have affected his ability to interact or communicate with people. According to the insider:
“Nick has not been well for many years, but before jail, some of his personality could be recognized. Not now. He is like a babbling child, totally out of it. It’s so bad his lawyers have a hard time talking to him.”
Is Nick Reiner’s financial future now set in stone, or can he find a legal loophole?