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topicnews · October 25, 2024

Explained: The Menendez brothers and the latest development in their case

Explained: The Menendez brothers and the latest development in their case

This article contains references to sexual abuse.
Prosecutors in the United States have recommended that brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez be resentenced for the 1989 murders of their parents, which is expected to lead to their release.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said in a press conference on Thursday local time (Friday AEST) that he recommended the brothers be resentenced and recommended that their life sentence be replaced with a sentence of 50 years to life due to their young age at the time of the murders they are immediately eligible for parole.

“After a very careful consideration of all the arguments presented … I have reached a point where I believe that a resentencing is appropriate under the law and I will recommend this to a court tomorrow,” Gascón said.

Lyle (left) and Erik Menendez (center) during their televised first trial in 1994, which ended in a hung jury. Source: AFP / Mike Nelson

The Menendez brothers were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 1996. Lyle, then 21, and Erik, then 18, admitted to killing their parents Jose and Kitty Menendez.

The brothers said they were sexually abused by their parents for years and acted in self-defense, while prosecutors argued they were targeting their parents’ assets.
“You have been in prison for almost 35 years. I believe that they have paid their debt to society,” Gascón said.

However, he said other prosecutors in his office opposed her release and might argue for keeping her in prison.

Who are the Menendez brothers?

Erik and Lyle Menendez were jailed after admitting to fatally shooting their father, Jose Menendez, an entertainment executive, and their mother, Kitty Menendez, on August 20, 1989.
The brothers initially told police that they found their parents dead when they arrived home, but eventually admitted to killing their parents and were put on trial for the murders.

The public’s interest in the case was primarily based on the motive behind the murders.

Erik and Lyle Menendez in front of a house.

Erik and Lyle Menendez in front of their Beverly Hills home in 1989. Source: Getty / Los Angeles Times

In their first trial in 1994, which was televised and ended with a hung jury, the brothers testified that they had been sexually abused for years by both parents and had acted in self-defense, fearing their father would kill them , if they discovered the abuse.

However, prosecutors argued that the couple was seeking their parents’ multi-million dollar fortune.

During her second trial, the judge excluded evidence of abuse from her defense. They were convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in 1996 and sentenced to life in prison without parole instead of the death penalty.

What are the new developments?

During the press conference, Gascón said there was no doubt the brothers killed their parents, but said new evidence influenced the decision, including a letter Erik Menendez allegedly wrote to a cousin eight months before the murders in which he described the abuse.
Gascón says that if this evidence had been presented at trial, the jury might have reached a different conclusion and the brothers might have been charged with manslaughter instead of murder.
“I truly believe that the brothers have been subjected to enormous disruption and harassment at home,” Gascón said during the press conference.
“We often don’t believe victims of sexual assault, regardless of whether they are women [or] Men,” he said.

“[Our] Our own implicit and sometimes explicit biases around sexual abuse and sexual assault often lead to serious injustices in our community.”

Four actors pose for a publicity photo. Three men wearing dark blazers and ties and light pants and ties face a woman wearing a red top and black skirt.

(left to right) Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Chloë Sevigny, Javier Bardem and Cooper Koch in “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.” Credit: Netflix

Investigators are also looking into allegations from a member of the 1980s pop band Menudo, who said he was abused by Jose Menendez.

Prosecutors added that changing attitudes toward sexual violence also contributed to the resentencing recommendation, particularly given the idea that men cannot be raped.
“Since the original charges … our office has gained a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding sexual violence,” he said in a statement.
Gascón says the killings were still “horrible acts,” adding, “There is no excuse for murder.”
Present at the news conference were several members of the extended Menendez family, including Kitty Menendez’s sister Joan Andersen VanderMolen and the brothers’ cousin Anamaria Baralt, who said it was a “brave and necessary” announcement that marked a “day of hope.” . for the family.

“The prosecutor’s decision reflects the truth that has been hidden for so long,” Baralt said during the press conference.

“This step gives us all hope that the truth will finally come to light and that Lyle and Erik can begin to heal from the trauma of their past.”
Several other family members called for the brothers’ release. Some noted that people were more aware of the effects of sexual abuse and that they would not now have been convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.
However, not all members of the Menendez family are in favor of resentencing, as attorneys for Milton Andersen, Kitty Menendez’s brother, are asking the court to uphold the brothers’ original sentence.
“They shot her mother, Kitty, while reloading to ensure her death,” Andersen’s lawyers said in a statement Thursday.

“The evidence remains overwhelmingly clear: the jury’s verdict was fair and the sentence fits the heinous crime.”

Why is there renewed interest in the case?

The Menendez case has gained traction in recent weeks following the release of the new Netflix drama “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” which quickly shot to the top of the Netflix streaming charts.
The fictional drama starring Javier Bardem, Chloë Sevigny, Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch was created by Ryan Murphy, who previously created a series about serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.
The Netflix drama presents the Menendez brothers’ murders from multiple perspectives and examines what may have led the brothers to kill their parents.

Erik Menendez criticized the show in a statement published on X by his wife Tammi Menendez, calling it a “disheartening slander.”

The show’s popularity led to a resurgence of interest online, including a TikTok and social media movement largely supportive of Erik and Lyle, sparking petitions calling for their release.
Erik Menendez has previously thanked people for their support but said he was “concerned” about the TikTok videos.
“I heard about a lot of videos. “I’m sure there are TikTok videos that are very serious, but I also know there are those that aren’t,” he said.
“I am concerned and believe it is important that the seriousness of my crime is not downplayed or diminished,” Erik said.
Weeks later, Netflix released a separate documentary called “The Menendez Brothers,” which features modern-day interviews with Lyle and Erik Menendez from phone calls from prison.
Gascón hopes to have a hearing within the next 30 to 45 days.
Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline Crisis Support on 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged 5 to 25). For more information, see And .

Anyone seeking information or support related to sexual abuse can contact Bravehearts on 1800 272 831 or Blue Knot on 1300 657 380.

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