Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman rejected a bid by Erik and Lyle Menendez to challenge their murder convictions, stating that the evidence they provided did not meet the standards required for a new trial. The brothers had filed a petition seeking a new trial based on a letter from Erik detailing his father’s alleged sexual abuse, but Hochman found the photocopy of the letter to lack credibility. The brothers have claimed the killings were in self-defense, as they said their father was abusing Erik and threatening to expose the abuse.
The petition also included a declaration from a former member of Menudo alleging sexual assault by Jose Menendez, which prosecutors argued was inadmissible and lacked credibility. Family members advocating for the brothers’ release expressed disappointment in the prosecutor’s response, accusing him of dismissing their experiences.
The brothers were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole following a mistrial and retrial in the 1990s. Former Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón supported a request to resentence the brothers to make them eligible for parole immediately. Hochman’s office is reviewing the request, with a decision expected in the next two weeks.
The Menendez brothers’ relatives have shown support for Gascón’s efforts, while Kitty’s brother opposes their release citing greed as the motive for the killings. Gascón also expressed support for clemency for the brothers, which would need approval from California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Newsom has not yet taken a stance on the matter.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
