US3 min(s) read
Chilling reason Nick Reiner smirked in court during hearing for his parents' double murder
Nick Reiner may have appeared calm during his arraignment in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom on Monday — but one expert believes there was far more going on beneath the surface.
Body language expert Susan Constantine exclusively spoke with Page Six after Nick pleaded not guilty in connection to the stabbing deaths of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner.
Body Language Expert Unpacks Nick Reiner's Smile
“There is a really interesting smirk where his head goes down and then he smiles,” Constantine said, adding that he was “trying to conceal his emotions” by tilting his head downward.
According to Constantine, the subtle grin wasn’t random. She classified the expression as “a form of leakage” known as “duper’s delight.”
“‘Duper’s delight’ is when a person gets a sense or rush or enjoyment,” she said. “You will see that it’s almost like a sinister smile and it kind of leaks out at the most inappropriate moments.”
Constantine believes Nick was displaying a “form of enjoyment” during the moment in question — though she emphasized that he was simultaneously attempting to mask it.
“It was an unconscious smirk of a sense of enjoyment or elation or excitement,” she said.
However, once he realized what he was doing, Constantine said he quickly shifted gears.
After becoming “consciously aware” that he was smirking, she explained that he promptly “changed his behavior.”
Expert Points To ‘Tenseness’ And ‘Paranoia’ In Courtroom Appearance
Constantine, whose book How to Spot a Liar in 7 Seconds or Less is set to be released in 2027, also analyzed other physical signs she observed during the arraignment.
She pointed to what she described as “pulsating” along Nick’s jawline and visible lines across his forehead as signs of internal strain.
“His forehead shows a lot of worry,” she said. “His eyes show paranoia and fear — high levels of it. An intensity level of it.”
The hearing marked the first time Nick had been seen inside a Los Angeles courtroom since his arrest.
Nick appeared with sunken eyes and a shaved head. He maintained a stoic expression while seated beside his attorney, public defender Kimberly Greene.
During the hearing, the judge asked whether he would waive his right to a speedy preliminary hearing. Nick responded simply: “Yes.”
His next court appearance is scheduled for April 29.
Arrest, Charges, And The Tragic Deaths Of Rob And Michele Reiner
Nick, 32, was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders after his parents were found stabbed to death in their Brentwood home on Dec. 14, 2025.
Rob was 78 years old. Michele was 70.
According to the LA County Medical Examiner’s Office, the When Harry Met Sally director and Michele died from “multiple sharp force injuries.” Their deaths were ruled homicides.
Nick is currently facing a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. He is being held without bail in solitary confinement at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles.