Two brothers convicted of murdering their parents, whose story was highlighted in Netflix series and documentary, may be released early after spending 34 years in prison.
Lyle Menendez, now 56, and his brother Erik, 53, are serving life sentences without parole for the 1989 shotgun murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. They were imprisoned following a 1996 trial when Lyle was 21 and Erik was 18.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon stated: “Under the law resentencing is appropriate. I’m going to recommend that to a court tomorrow,” via CBS.
Prosecutors now need court approval, which could make the brothers eligible for immediate parole. The case regained public attention after the release of Monsters, a Netflix drama, and a recent documentary about their story.
Earlier this month, Mr. Gascon acknowledged that the brothers committed the murders, but his office is reviewing new evidence to decide if resentencing is justified. He mentioned that the new evidence supposedly supports claims that Erik Menendez was sexually abused by his father, a music executive.
The brothers’ extended family members have also come forward to support their release. Anamaria Baralt, the niece of Jose Menendez, announced at a Los Angeles news conference that relatives have formed a “new coalition” called Justice for Erik and Lyle.
The Menendez brothers maintain that they acted in self-defense after enduring a lifetime of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at the hands of their parents.
Their legal team argues that societal views on sexual abuse have evolved, and if the case were tried today, the brothers might not have been convicted of first-degree murder or sentenced to life without parole.
Prosecutors at the time argued there was no evidence of abuse and claimed the brothers’ motive was to inherit their parents’ multimillion-dollar estate.
