The brothers are step closer to freedom
The Menendez Brothers have been confirmed to be receiving resentencing as the controversial pair have taken one step closer to freedom.
Erik and Lyle Menendez are currently serving life in prison for the murder of their parents, Kitty and Jose Menenedez.
The brothers became the focus of a media frenzy, in part due to their parents being affluent members of Beverly Hills, shot to death in their home.
It also faced particular scrutiny due to the handling of the death of Rodney King, which spawned riots in Los Angeles.
Though the detail was omitted from their second trial in which they were found guilty, the Menendez brothers claim that they were sexually abused by their father.
The case has seen a noticeable uptick in attention due to the Netflix show Monsters: The Erik and Lyle Menendez Story.
This was a follow up to the show Monster which focused on the killings of Jeffrey Dahmer.
Whilst the portrayal of the brothers in the show has been criticised, particularly by Erik Menendez who slammed the show’s ‘blatant lies’.
Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón revealed the plans to resentence the brothers this evening in a press conference.
The DA said in his press conference: “I believe the brothers were subject to a tremendous amount of dysfunction in their home and molestation.”
He went on to say there is ‘no excuse’ for murder. He added: “I believe they have paid their debt to society”.
Whilst this is simply a recommendation, and the ultimate decision will be made by a judge, Gascón stated that if a judge were to approve his recommendation, the brothers could receive parole ‘immediately’ due to time served.
The Los Angeles DA announced the news at a press conference (Fox)
He said: “We’re seeking that they would be sentenced to life with the possibility of parole, as opposed to life without the possibility of parole”.
Due to this fact, and their young age at the time of the murders, they would be eligible for parole.
When asked previously why the brothers’ case was being re-examined, Gascón said: “We have been given a photocopy of a letter that allegedly was sent by one of the brothers to another family member, talking about him being the victim of molestation.”
During the press conference Gascón pointed to the fact that victims of sexual assault are often not believed.
He said: “Often for cultural reasons, we don’t believe victims of sexual assault.
“It’s salient that our own implicit and sometimes explicit bias around sexual abuse and sexual assault often leads us to severe injustices in our community”.
The Los Angeles DA stated that resentencing to a charge of manslaughter would ‘not be appropriate’.
This is due to the ‘premeditation that was involved’, and he said it was ‘clearly’ murder.
