CCTV footage has been released by police this week, showing Nick Reiner visiting a gas station in the hours after murdering his movie star parents.
The bodies of actor and filmmaker Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele Singer were discovered at their Los Angeles apartment on Sunday (14 December), having sustained apparent stab wounds.
Investigating officers initially revealed on Monday that a family member been brought in for questioning after being linked to the 'apparent homicides'. The following day, however, police confirmed that the couple's 32-year-old son Nick Reiner had been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
The middle child of Rob and Michele's three children - son Jake 34, and daughter Romy, 28, both of whom are aspiring actors - Nick failed to appear in court on Tuesday as expected, with his lawyer Alan Jackson claiming this was due to unspecified health reasons.
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He did make an appearance a matter of minutes ago, however, where - wearing no shirt, but a set of shackles - he waived his right to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty on the charge.
"We all recognise the tragedy, there's very complex and serious issues that are associated with this case," Jackson told attendees on Wednesday (17 Dec). "We ask that you allow the system to move forward in the way it was designed to move forward."
Nick was subsequently asked if he understood he has the right to a speedy trial by judge Theresa McGonigle, to which he simply responded, as per the BBC: "Yes, your honour."
As we say, following the official charge, video footage has been made public by investigators, showing Nick visiting a petrol station in the hours after the double homicide, and prior to his arrest.
In the now viral clip, the screenwriter is seen purchasing a drink at the counter, wearing a green, white and black tracksuit jacket, a black cap. He also carried a red backpack.
Further footage - obtained by ABC - also shows the moment that Nick was apprehended by officers, after which he was booked for the grisly crime.
Along with the charges later filed against him, the special circumstance allegation of multiple murders - as well as the fact he used a dangerous and deadly weapon, a knife - could contribute to the possibility of Nick facing the death penalty.
This said, however, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman insisted during a press conference today that prosecutors haven't yet made a decision as to whether his team will pursue capital punishment.
"Prosecuting these cases involving family members are some of the most challenging and heart-wrenching cases that this office faces because of the intimate and often brutal nature of the crimes involved," he explained.
As a reminder, Nick previously opened up to press about his battles with both homeless and substance abuse.
He told PEOPLE Magazine in 2016: "I was homeless in Maine. I was homeless in New Jersey. I was homeless in Texas. I spent nights on the street. I spent weeks on the street. It was not fun."
On his refusal to attend rehab, Nick added at the time: "If I wanted to do it my way and not go to the programs they were suggesting, then I had to be homeless. That made me who I am now, having to deal with that stuff. I met crazy great people there, so out of my element.
"Now, I’ve been home for a really long time, and I’ve sort of gotten acclimated back to being in LA and being around my family.
"But there was a lot of dark years there."
Topics: Celebrity, Crime, US News, True Crime, TV And Film
Rhianna Benson