Lyle and Erik Menendez have as soon as once more develop into a serious focal point as they proceed to serve life sentences with out parole for the 1989 homicide of their dad and mom, José and Kitty Menendez.
Their case gained renewed consideration first by Ryan Murphy‘s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, adopted by a Netflix documentary that featured beforehand unreleased cellphone name recordings between the brothers and director Alejandro Hartmann from the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, the place they’re incarcerated.
With this renewed focus, new proof, and an upcoming courtroom listening to, Lyle and Erik, now 56 and 53, could have an opportunity at freedom. For readers to remain up to date on the Menendez brothers’ case, ipromiseyoumedia has compiled all the important thing info beneath.
Is the Menendez Case Being Reopened?
Erik and Lyle’s resentencing listening to has been scheduled for December 11. The date was set on October 30 by Los Angeles County Superior Court docket Choose Michael Jesic, after prosecutors submitted a suggestion for the brothers’ resentencing. Los Angeles County prosecutors have really helpful that the brothers obtain a brand new sentence of fifty years to life. As a result of they have been below 26 years outdated on the time of the crimes, they might be eligible for parole instantly below a California legislation that went into impact in 2018.
The Menendez brothers beforehand had a courtroom listening to set for November 29, 2024, in accordance with Selection, which adopted the invention of proof suggesting that their father, Jose, sexually abused his youngsters.
“We have now been given proof, together with a photocopy of a letter allegedly despatched by one of many brothers to a different member of the family, discussing being the sufferer of molestation,” Los Angeles District Legal professional George Gascón shared, per the outlet. He additionally talked about, “We’ve obtained proof offered by the protection, together with claims from a member of the Menudo band who alleged he was molested by the daddy.”
In line with the Los Angeles District Legal professional Workplace, Gascón acknowledged in October 2024, “I strongly assist clemency for Erik and Lyle Menendez, who’re at present serving sentences of life with out risk of parole. They’ve respectively served 34 years and have continued their educations and labored to create new applications to assist the rehabilitation of fellow inmates.”
Roy Rosselló, a former member of the Puerto Rican boy band sensation Menudo, spoke out within the 2023 Peacock documentary Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed, the place he alleged that he was abused by the music government when he was 14.
Will There Be a Retrial?
It’s at present unclear if the brothers will face a retrial, however choices for resentencing and attainable clemency have been set into movement by Gascón. Nevertheless, he was not too long ago unseated by former federal prosecutor Nathan Hochman, who stepped into workplace on December 2, 2024.
Hochman revealed his preliminary plan for the case, telling CNN, “I should assessment the confidential jail recordsdata for every brother, the transcripts from each trials, and converse to the prosecutors, legislation enforcement, protection counsel, and the victims’ relations. Solely then can I decide. If for some motive I would like extra time, I’ll ask the courtroom for that point.”
He added, “If I ask for a delay, it gained’t be a delay for delay’s sake as a result of I feel the Menendez brothers, the sufferer relations, the general public should have a choice performed as quickly as it may be performed in an intensive method.”
In line with the Newsom’s workplace, “The Governor respects the position of the District Legal professional in making certain justice is served and acknowledges that voters have entrusted District Legal professional-elect Hochman to hold out this accountability.” The assertion additionally famous, “The Governor will defer to the DA-elect’s assessment and evaluation of the Menendez case prior to creating any clemency selections.”
On Monday, November 25, 2024, a courtroom listening to was held, however a decide dominated to delay the listening to initially scheduled for December 11. Newly elected Los Angeles County District Legal professional Nathan Hochman requested extra time to assessment the case. Los Angeles County Superior Court docket Choose Michael Jesic rescheduled the listening to for January 30 and January 31, 2025. Hochman later famous that he believes the brothers have been telling lies. In a earlier press convention, he acknowledged, in accordance with Additional TV, “In the event that they have been to lastly come ahead and unequivocally and sincerely admit and utterly settle for accountability for his or her lies of self-defense and the tried suborning of perjury they engaged in, then the Court docket ought to weigh such new perception into the evaluation of rehabilitation and resentencing — as will the Individuals.”
The brothers are anticipated to have a resentencing listening to in Los Angeles on April 17.
Why Did the Menendez Brothers Kill Their Mother and father?
The truth that the brothers—then 21 and 18—dedicated the crime was by no means unsure in the course of the trial, however their motivation has divided opinions over the many years.
In the course of the proceedings, the brothers claimed they have been abused all through their childhood by their dad and mom. At their first trial, their legal professional, Leslie Abramson, argued that they killed their dad and mom in self-defense, fearing that their dad and mom would kill them in the event that they disclosed the years of alleged molestation they’d suffered at their father’s arms. She advised The Washington Submit in 1996, “These aren’t murderers. These are troubled children in a really troublesome and grotesque residence atmosphere, they usually cracked.” On the time, many believed the motive was their dad and mom’ inheritance cash.
For those who or anybody you recognize has been sexually abused, name the Nationwide Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). A educated workers member will present confidential, judgment-free assist in addition to native sources to help in therapeutic, recovering and extra.
For those who or somebody you recognize is fighting substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Psychological Well being Companies Administration (SAMHSA) Nationwide Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
