Is there a possibility of the Menendez brothers being released? | US News

The story of two brothers who were convicted of murdering their parents at their Beverly Hills home in 1989 has been brought back into focus due to a Netflix series recounting their tale.

Lyle Menendez, aged 56, and his brother Erik, aged 53, are currently serving life sentences without the possibility of parole for the fatal shootings of their father and mother, Jose and Kitty Menendez.

Following the release of a Netflix drama titled Monsters about the brothers and a new documentary, their family has appealed for their release.

So, what arguments are being made for their freedom? Is there fresh evidence that could potentially lead to their release?

Statements from the family

The Menendez brothers, who were 21 and 18 at the time of the murders, confessed to the killings but claimed they acted in self-defense after enduring years of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.

A news conference held in Los Angeles on 17th October saw around two dozen extended family members gathered to express their unified support. Jose Menendez’s niece Anamaria Baralt spoke on behalf of the family, emphasizing the need for truth, justice, and healing.

The family believes that the brothers’ continued imprisonment does not serve any rehabilitative purpose.

Family divided in opinion

Kitty Menendez’s brother, Milton Andersen, aged 90, holds the view that the appropriate punishment for the brothers is a life sentence without parole.

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His lawyer stated that the motive behind the murders was pure greed, as the brothers had recently discovered they were being disinherited.

Revisiting the defense with new evidence

The Menendez brothers’ defense team has consistently argued that their clients were victims of abuse by their parents, a claim made since the onset of the case.

During their trials, prosecutors maintained that there was no evidence of abuse, suggesting that the brothers were driven by greed for their parents’ estate.

The brothers’ lawyers contend that societal attitudes towards sexual abuse have shifted since their initial trial in 1993, indicating that if the case were to be heard today, they might not have been convicted of first-degree murder and given life sentences without parole.

They suggest that the brothers should have been charged with manslaughter instead. Moreover, a recently uncovered letter written by Erik Menendez to his cousin before the murders detailed his alleged abuse at the hands of his father, which was reportedly not presented to the jury during sentencing in 1996.

Los Angeles district attorney George Gascon briefly shared the letter on social media before removing it, prompting further discussion on the case.

Potential for release?

There is indeed a possibility for the brothers to be released, as prosecutors in Los Angeles are currently reviewing their convictions, with a court hearing scheduled for 26th November.

Their lawyers are urging the court to consider their clients’ rehabilitative progress in prison as a crucial factor in determining their fate. If deemed rehabilitated, the brothers may be released or have their sentences reduced.

Additionally, the defense team has presented the letter from Erik Menendez as new evidence to the court, suggesting that it could have impacted the jury’s decision back in 1996.

A ruling in favor of reconsidering the evidence but not on their rehabilitation could potentially lead to a retrial.

During a press conference, Mr. Gascon clarified that the review was not to challenge the brothers’ guilt but to ascertain the necessity of reevaluation based on new information.

He highlighted that out of 300 resentenced individuals during his tenure, only four had reoffended.

Response from the brothers

Erik’s wife, Tammi Menendez, addressed the ongoing developments on social media, expressing gratitude for the support and hope for a positive resolution in November.

She conveyed Erik’s deep appreciation for the overwhelming support from family members and their unwavering belief in his innocence.