A mediator has been appointed to determine whether Nick Reiner can use funds from a trust established by his parents to finance his legal defense in the murder case involving their deaths. The decision follows an agreement by attorneys representing Reiner and the trust’s trustee to enter “global mediation,” anticipated to begin in mid-December, subject to court approval.

Reiner, 33, is requesting access to $558,000 from a trust distribution scheduled for 2023 to rehire his attorney, Alan Jackson, who recently withdrew from the case over unpaid fees. He faces charges related to the stabbing deaths of his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, in their Brentwood residence last December. The motive behind the killings has not been publicly disclosed. Reiner was indicted earlier this year and, if convicted, could face life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Prosecutors have stated they are not seeking the death penalty.

Representatives of the trust argue that the funds should be withheld under California’s Slayer Statute, which prevents individuals from benefiting financially from crimes they commit, including inheritance or trust distributions. However, Reiner’s legal team counters that the statute cannot be applied before a criminal conviction and points out that the funds he seeks predate the murders and were not previously accessed.

The court has scheduled a hearing for March 2027 to review and potentially approve any resolution resulting from the mediation process. The outcome will determine whether Reiner can legally draw on the trust funds to cover his defense expenses.