Lyle and Erik Menendez have as soon as once more turn out to be 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 telephone 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 court docket 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, HollywoodLife has compiled all the important thing data 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 previous on the time of the crimes, they’d be eligible for parole instantly below a California legislation that went into impact in 2018.
The Menendez brothers beforehand had a court docket 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 kids.
“We’ve 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 supplied by the protection, together with claims from a member of the Menudo band who alleged he was molested by the daddy.”
Based on the Los Angeles District Legal professional Workplace, Gascón acknowledged in October 2024, “I strongly help clemency for Erik and Lyle Menendez, who’re presently serving sentences of life with out chance of parole. They’ve respectively served 34 years and have continued their educations and labored to create new packages to help 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 govt when he was 14.
Will There Be a Retrial?
It’s presently unclear if the brothers will face a retrial, however choices for resentencing and doable clemency have been set into movement by Gascón. Nonetheless, he was just lately unseated by former federal prosecutor Nathan Hochman, who is about to take workplace on December 2.
Hochman revealed his preliminary plan for the case, telling CNN, “I must overview the confidential jail information for every brother, the transcripts from each trials, and communicate to the prosecutors, legislation enforcement, protection counsel, and the victims’ members of the family. Solely then can I decide. If for some cause I would like further time, I’ll ask the court docket 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 believe the Menendez brothers, the sufferer members of the family, the general public need to have a choice performed as quickly as it may be performed in an intensive method.”
Based on the Newsom’s workplace, “The Governor respects the position of the District Legal professional in guaranteeing 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 overview and evaluation of the Menendez case prior to creating any clemency choices.”
On Monday, November 25, 2024, a court docket listening to was held, however a choose dominated to delay the listening to initially scheduled for December 11. Newly elected Los Angeles County District Legal professional Nathan Hochman requested further time to overview the case. Los Angeles County Superior Court docket Choose Michael Jesic rescheduled the listening to for January 30 and January 31, 2025.
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 doubtful in the course of the trial, however their motivation has divided opinions over the a long time.
Through the proceedings, the brothers claimed they have been abused all through their childhood by their dad and mom. At their first trial, their lawyer, 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 that they had suffered at their father’s fingers. She instructed The Washington Put up in 1996, “These aren’t murderers. These are troubled youngsters in a really tough and grotesque residence surroundings, and so they cracked.” On the time, many believed the motive was their dad and mom’ inheritance cash.
Should you or anybody has been sexually abused, name the Nationwide Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). A skilled employees member will present confidential, judgment-free help in addition to native assets to help in therapeutic, recovering and extra.
Should you or somebody is fighting substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Psychological Well being Providers Administration (SAMHSA) Nationwide Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
