In 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez, aged 56 and 53 years old respectively, brutally shot and killed their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, and are currently serving life terms without the possibility of parole. In a well-publicized trial in 1996, the brothers were found guilty. Lyle was 21 and Erik was 18 when they were sentenced.
George Gascon, the district attorney for Los Angeles County, recommended resentencing for the brothers on Thursday. Given their ages at the time of the crime, he suggested that their life sentences be replaced with terms of 50 years to life, which would instantly qualify them for parole.
“Resentencing is appropriate under the law,” Gascon said during a press conference, “tomorrow, I will suggest that to a court.” He made it clear that he thought the brothers had done their time.
The judge then makes the final decision after prosecutors request permission from the court. This follows after Gascon’s office announced that they will be investigating further into the allegations that Erik was sexually molested by their father, who was a music executive.
Both Erik and Lyle claim that after years of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, they killed their parents in self-defense. Their defense team argues that if the case went to trial today, the changing public views on sexual assault may lead to different conclusions on the allegations.
Prosecutors in the original case insisted that there was no concrete proof of abuse and claimed that the brothers’ intentions originated from a desire for their parents’ multimillion-dollar fortune.
Given the recent events, a number of extended family members came together to support the brothers’ release under the name of Justice for Erik and Lyle. Jose Menendez’s niece Anamaria Baralt was optimistic following the news of the resentencing recommendation, stating, “Today is a day filled with promise for our family.”
Baralt claimed that the suggestion gives their family hope, suggesting that it may result in a time when the reality of their circumstances is accepted and the Menendez brothers may begin the healing process.
The ruling is significant, according to another relative who is reportedly Kitty Menendez’s niece: “The ruling is not just a legal matter; it recognizes the abuse my cousins faced.” She confirmed that the choice, although its difficulty, was obviously the right one and thanked the district attorney for putting justice ahead of politics.
Not every family member, though, is in favor of the resentencing process. In a court filing, Kitty Menendez’s brother, Milton Andersen, 90, argues that the brothers’ original sentences should be upheld.
Recent releases of the Netflix drama ‘Monsters’ and a documentary that tells their narrative have contributed to the Menendez case’s recent attention, sparking public interest in their family’s dynamics and their long-running court disputes.
