Judge to weigh Menedez brothers’ fate after family bashed ‘cruel’ DA they claim put their aunt in the hospital
A Los Angeles judge is set to hear arguments for and against reducing the sentences of notorious killers Lyle and Erik Menendez following a motion filed by their attorney, Mark Geragos. The brothers, who have been in prison for nearly 35 years after murdering their wealthy parents in 1989, are seeking parole, claiming they have been fully rehabilitated.
However, District Attorney Nathan Hochman is vehemently against the idea of releasing the Menendez brothers, arguing that they have not shown any remorse for their heinous crimes. The brothers had initially claimed self-defense in the murder of their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, but Hochman rejects this narrative.
The tension between prosecutors and the Menendez family escalated recently when gruesome crime scene photos were shown in court without warning. This led to the hospitalization of José Menendez’s 85-year-old sister, Terry Baralt, who had traveled from New Jersey to support her nephews. The family’s lawyer filed a motion to publicly admonish the district attorney for the distress caused by the images.
The Justice for Erik and Lyle Coalition condemned the display of the graphic images, stating that it was not only cruel but also a violation of their rights under Marsy’s Law, which guarantees victims’ relatives fairness, respect, and dignity. The DA’s office issued an apology for not giving prior warning but defended the use of visual aids in court proceedings.
The possibility of resentencing by the court is one of the paths to freedom for Erik and Lyle Menendez. They were convicted of first-degree murder in the ’90s after a highly publicized trial. A 2024 Netflix documentary shed new light on their case, leading to a petition for resentencing based on evidence of alleged sexual abuse by their father.
Former DA George Gascón supported the resentencing petition, but current DA Nathan Hochman dismissed it as a ploy by Gascón to revive his failing campaign and labeled the Menendez brothers’ self-defense claims as lies. The fate of the Menendez brothers now rests in the hands of the court as they await a decision on their parole eligibility.
