DistantNews
Support us
Accused murderer Nick Reiner barred from using parents' money for defense
🇩🇪 Germany /Crime & Justice

Accused murderer Nick Reiner barred from using parents' money for defense

From Der Spiegel · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • Nick Reiner, accused of murdering his parents, cannot use their money to fund his legal defense and prison expenses.
  • Trustees rejected Reiner's request to access a $1.5 million trust fund established by his parents.
  • The decision cites California's "Slayer Statute," which bars individuals from inheriting from victims they intentionally killed, though Reiner's lawyer argues the statute requires a conviction.

A Los Angeles court has denied Nick Reiner's request to use his murdered parents' funds for his legal defense and jail expenses. Reiner, 32, is accused of killing his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner.

In June, Reiner petitioned a California court for access to a trust fund worth over $1.5 million. His parents had established this fund in his name in 1993, shortly after his birth. However, the trustees opposed his request in court documents filed in early August.

Their opposition is based on California's "Slayer Statute." This law prohibits individuals from inheriting money or property from someone they have "intentionally and criminally killed." The statute aims to prevent murderers from benefiting from their crimes.

Reiner's attorney contested the application of the statute, stating that it requires a legal conviction, not just an accusation. "The 'Slayer Statute' requires a final conviction, not merely an accusation," she argued. "Nick is presumed innocent; he has not been convicted of anything."

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Der Spiegel in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog