Menendez Brothers Given Chance at Freedom After 35 Years in Prison
A California judge has granted Erik and Lyle Menendez, who were sentenced to life in prison for murdering their parents in their Beverly Hills home, a chance at freedom after 35 years behind bars. According to a report by The Guardian, Judge Michael Jesic shortened the brothers’ sentences of life in prison without the possibility of parole to 50 years to life, making them eligible for parole under California’s youthful offender law because they committed the crime under the age of 26.
The brothers, now 54 and 57 years old, appeared via livestream video from prison in San Diego, and although they did not show any apparent emotion during most of the testimony, they chuckled when one of their cousins, Diane Hernandez, told the court that Erik Menendez received A+ grades in all of his classes during his most recent semester in college. Their lawyers argue that they are immediately eligible for parole, although they will remain incarcerated while their parole status is decided.
In a statement, Judge Jesic said, "I’m not saying they should be released; it’s not for me to decide. I do believe they’ve done enough in the past 35 years, that they should get that chance." The ruling capped a day-long hearing in which several relatives, a retired judge, and a former fellow prisoner testified in support of defense efforts to shorten the brothers’ sentence to time already served, or at least gain their eligibility for parole.
The defense argued that the brothers had been subjected to years of sexual, psychological, and physical abuse by their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, and that they feared their parents were going to kill them to cover up the abuse. The brothers were found guilty of first-degree murder in the killings in 1989 and sentenced to life in prison without parole. However, support for the brothers has grown significantly in recent years, with many arguing that they have been rehabilitated and should be given a chance at freedom.
According to The Guardian, the brothers’ defense attorneys presented testimony from several relatives, including cousins Anamaria Baralt and Tamara Goodell, who argued that the brothers had expressed remorse for their actions and had been forgiven by their family. Baralt stated, "We all, on both sides of the family, believe that 35 years is enough. They are universally forgiven by our family." Goodell said that she had recently taken her 13-year-old son to meet the brothers in prison, and that they would contribute a lot of good to the world if released.
The prosecution, however, argued that the brothers had not taken complete responsibility for the crime, and that they should not be eligible for parole. Los Angeles county prosecutors, led by District Attorney Nathan Hochman, opposed the resentencing, arguing that the brothers had not taken full responsibility for their actions. However, George Gascón, the former Los Angeles county district attorney, had recommended that the brothers be resentenced, citing modern understandings of sexual abuse and the brothers’ rehabilitation during their decades behind bars.
The hearing also heard testimony from Jonathan Colby, a former judge who said he was impressed with the programs the brothers started during their time in prison to provide aid and care for older and disabled prisoners. Anerae Brown, a former prisoner, testified that the brothers had helped him heal and get on the path to rehabilitation, leading to his release from prison. He praised the programs they started, calling them "Menendez University."
As reported by The Guardian, the brothers’ chances for release appeared more hopeful than they had in decades, as they sought freedom through multiple legal avenues, including asking for a new trial in light of new evidence of their father’s abuse, a petition for clemency from the governor, and a request for resentencing. The resentencing hearings had been delayed repeatedly since January amid the LA wildfires and disputes between the defense and prosecution.
Lyle Menendez stated, "I killed my mom and dad. I make no excuses and also no justification. The impact of my violent actions on my family … is unfathomable." The brothers still require approval from the state’s parole board to be released. With this new development, their case will continue to be closely watched by those following the complexities of the US justice system.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
