A choose on Tuesday re-sentenced Erik and Lyle Menendez to 50 years to life for the 1989 shotgun killings of their dad and mom in Beverly Hills, making them eligible for parole after serving practically 35 years.
The choice by Los Angeles County Superior Courtroom Decide Michael Jesic got here after a full-day listening to that included testimony from relations and fellow jail inmates.
The brothers are actually eligible for parole underneath California’s youthful offender regulation as a result of they dedicated the crime underneath the age of 26. The state parole board should nonetheless resolve whether or not to launch them from jail.
“I’m not saying they should be released, it’s not for me to decide,” Jesic stated. “I do believe they’ve done enough in the past 35 years, that they should get that chance.”
FILE – This mix of two reserving photographs supplied by the California Division of Corrections exhibits Erik Menendez, left, and Lyle Menendez. (California Dept. of Corrections by way of AP, File)
The brothers had been initially sentenced in 1996 to life in jail with out the potential of parole for murdering their father, Jose Menendez, and mom, Kitty Menendez, of their Beverly Hills residence in 1989.
The brothers had been 18 and 21 on the time of the killings. Whereas protection attorneys argued the brothers acted out of self-defense after years of sexual abuse by their father, prosecutors stated the brothers killed their dad and mom for a multimillion-dollar inheritance.
The brothers didn’t present any obvious emotion throughout many of the testimony as they appeared by way of livestream video, however chuckled when one among their cousins, Diane Hernandez, advised the courtroom that Erik Menendez obtained A+ grades in all of his courses throughout his most up-to-date semester in faculty.
The case not solely generated vital public curiosity on the time of the slayings, however has remained within the public highlight for many years. Curiosity surged final 12 months with the discharge of the Netflix drama, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” and the documentary, “The Menendez Brothers.”
Every current listening to within the case has been not solely lined by worldwide media but additionally attended by many supporters of the brothers’ combat for freedom.
Erik and Lyle Menendez are seen in a listening to sketch on Might 9, 2025. (Mona Edwards)
The Listening to
The protection started Tuesday’s presentation by calling Anamaria Baralt, a cousin of Erik and Lyle, who testified that the brothers have repeatedly expressed regret for his or her actions.
“We all, on both sides of the family, believe that 35 years is enough,” Baralt stated. “They are universally forgiven by our family.”
One other cousin, Tamara Goodell, stated she had just lately taken her 13-year-old son to fulfill the brothers in jail, and that they’d contribute quite a lot of good to the world if launched.
Los Angeles County District Lawyer Nathan Hochman, who broke from his predecessor and opposed resentencing, stated on Tuesday that the brothers “have not come clean” about their crimes. He has additionally questioned the validity of their declare that they had been sexually abused by their father.
“Our stance isn’t a definitive ‘no’ or ‘never’—it’s ‘not yet,’” Hochman acknowledged. “They have not taken full responsibility for the entirety of their criminal behavior.”
Hochman’s workplace made two makes an attempt to withdraw the resentencing petition, however each efforts had been denied by Jesic.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
