The Menendez brothers have been in jail for 34 years after being discovered responsible of the homicide of their dad and mom, Jose and Kitty Menendez. Now, because of new proof introduced by the brothers’ attorneys final yr, a date has been set for a brand new listening to that may permit the 2 to go free, or at the least set a hard and fast date for his or her launch.
Lyle and Erik Menendez’s case was already very well-known when the second season of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story and the brand new Netflix documentary titled The Menendez Brothers had been launched. Ryan Murphy’s fictionalized account of the homicide of Jose and Kitty Menendez has been closely criticized, significantly for portraying the brothers in an incestuous relationship.
Associated: See photographs of Lyle Menendez’s wig all through his trial
However the documentary, which included interviews with each brothers, gave a glimmer of hope that the 2 would possibly go free quickly, regardless of each having been sentenced to life with out parole. The documentary ends with the next phrases: “In Might 2023, Erik and Lyle filed a habeas petition searching for to vacate their homicide convictions. The decide requested the District Legal professional to reply they usually await a call.” So, are the brothers getting a brand new trial, a brand new sentence or are they going free?
Are the Menendez brothers getting a brand new trial?
Not fairly, however the two are certainly getting a brand new listening to, set for November 29. The brothers have appealed their sentence a number of occasions with none change, however this listening to relies on new proof that has not too long ago been introduced by their protection. The workplace of Los Angeles County District Legal professional George Gascón is claimed to be inspecting the proof to find out if the 2 are entitled to a brand new trial, or at the least to being resentenced. The workplace has set a press convention for Wednesday, October sixteenth, the place an announcement concerning the case is anticipated, with Self-importance Honest reporting that Los Angeles County District Legal professional George Gascón will advocate the resentencing of the brothers, with an eye fixed towards releasing them.
The brand new proof introduced features a handwritten letter from Erik Menendez to his cousin Andy Cano, wherein Erik talks concerning the abuse by the hands of his father. The letter is dated months earlier than Lyle and Erik murdered their dad and mom. Cano, who died in 2003, testified on the trial that Erik had advised him about his father’s abuse when Erik was 13.
However the letter isn’t the one new proof. On high of that, the brothers’ protection attorneys have a sworn assertion from Roy Rosselló, a former member of the boy band Menudo. Menendez was an govt with RCA Data, the label that signed Menudo to a recording contract. Rosselló alleges Menendez drugged him and sexually assaulted him when he was 14, throughout a go to to his residence.
The Menendez brothers by no means denied killing their dad and mom, as a substitute claiming they did it out of self-defense after enduring bodily, emotional, and sexual abuse from them. The brothers’ lawyer, Cliff Gardner advised the Related Press that “given right this moment’s very totally different understanding of how sexual and bodily abuse impacts youngsters — each girls and boys — and the outstanding new proof, we predict re-sentencing is the suitable consequence.”
Will the Menendez brothers go free?
Los Angeles County District Legal professional George Gascón, who’s up for reelection in November, posted on Instagram a part of the proof introduced by the brothers, with the next caption, and a plea for reelection.
“Proof of a letter addressing Erik Menendez’s SA has surfaced information. Progressive DA Gascón desires their case to be reevaluated. He says it’s his ethical and moral obligation to assessment the Menendez brothers’ case. It has been 35 years since their sentencing. It’s time to determine whether or not these males have paid their dues to society. Erik and Lyle Menendez have spent most of their lives behind bars and can proceed to until we are able to guarantee George Gascón can assessment and restore justice for all.”
Gascón’s time period ends December 1. However a definitive reply concerning the brother’s doable launch may be coming earlier than that. If Gascón does certainly make a suggestion to launch the brothers, a decide would then preside over a listening to to find out the precise phrases of such resentencing.
