Nick Reiner’s Trust Fund Could Help Pay for His Murder Defense

A dispute over a family trust could determine whether Nick Reiner can use part of his parents’ money to pay for his defense, according to RadarOnline.com. A judge has reportedly sent the question to a mediator, who will consider whether Reiner may access half of a trust valued at $1.5 million. Reiner’s lawyers argue that he should be allowed to use money that legally belongs to him to choose and pay for his attorney. His current lawyer, Anita Wu, has said a criminal defendant has a constitutional right to use lawfully owned funds for a defense. The trust’s lawyers, by contrast, contend that California’s so-called slayer statute could prevent Reiner from inheriting from his parents. The report says Reiner was due to receive about $550,000 from the trust when he turned 30 in 2023, but did not claim the money. His former attorney, Alan Jackson, left the case after funding for his fees fell through. If Reiner gains access to the disputed funds, he could potentially bring Jackson back to lead his defense, the outlet reports. The trust has also incurred substantial legal costs. Court filings cited by the publication reportedly show that more than $250,000 has already gone toward lawyers, including attorneys contesting Reiner’s access to the money. His legal team has argued that at least $325,000 of the disputed sum came from his grandfather, comedian Carl Reiner, who died in 2020. Nick Reiner has pleaded not guilty to two first-degree murder counts in the deaths of his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner. Prosecutors allege he killed them in their California home; the report says he was arrested on December 14 and remains in custody. Prosecutors have agreed not to seek the death penalty at the request of his siblings, Romy and Jake. The trust dispute is separate from the criminal case, and the mediator’s decision will address who can access the funds.