The Los Angeles prosecutor’s office requested this Thursday the reopening of the case of the brothers Lyle and Erik Menéndez, sentenced since 1996 to life imprisonment for the murder of their parents, José and Kitty Menéndez, although the final decision must be made by a judge.
“After a very careful review of all the arguments that were presented in favor of the people on both sides of this equation, I have concluded that they are within the law and that a new sentence is appropriate,” reported the prosecutor of the Los Angeles County District, George Gascón.
The prosecutor added in a crowded press room, expectant for this decision, that he will recommend to a court this Friday his decision that “the life sentence without the possibility of parole be eliminated and that they be convicted of murder.”
The prosecutor’s decision could pave the way for the release of Lyle and Erik, sentenced to life in prison without parole in a prison near San Diego.
Although the district attorney’s recommendation has weight when considering reopening a case, ultimately it will be a judge who decides the future of the brothers. There is a hearing in the case set for the last week of November.
“I believe that the brothers have paid their debt to society,” Gascón stated.
The Los Angeles prosecutor’s office reported on October 3 that they were reviewing new evidence of possible sexual abuse that was brought to court by the Menéndez brothers’ lawyers.
Among the new evidence is a letter written by one of the brothers admitting to another family member that he was being abused, as well as the testimony of a worker at the father’s company who alleges that he was abused by José Menéndez.
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Although the prosecution maintained at the time that the brothers committed the murders, it considered reviewing this evidence and making a decision on whether a new sentence is necessary.
The case
The Menéndez brothers were sentenced to life imprisonment in 1996 for planning and executing the murder of their parents on the afternoon of August 20, 1986 in their home, located in the luxurious town of Beverly Hills, with some shotguns that they had bought days before.
After the crime, Lyle and Erik, 21 and 18 years old, respectively, at the time of the events, told the authorities that they found the lifeless bodies of their parents after having spent the afternoon away from home.
The case became especially relevant when the brothers began to follow a life of luxury and excess after accessing their father’s fortune, which raised the suspicions of the authorities.
Shortly after, the girlfriend of Erik’s psychologist warned the Police of the existence of recorded sessions in which both admitted and discussed their guilt.
Although the Prosecutor’s Office argued that they sought to inherit the family fortune, the brothers affirmed, and maintain to this day, that their actions were due to a life of physical, emotional and sexual abuse by their father.
The brothers’ attorney, Mark Geragos, noted last week that during their time in prison the brothers created programs to mentor and mentor other inmates and were part of the first class of 22 prisoners to earn their college degrees while incarcerated.
These facts could also help the Menéndezes’ lawyers consider reopening the case for good conduct, another avenue being studied by the defendants’ legal team to reduce their sentence or request their release.
The Menéndez family also opened an internet site to seek social support for the release of the two brothers, who have Cuban roots.
The case gained public attention again this year with the September 19 premiere of ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story’, the Netflix series that tells the story of the murder and the trial. The Spanish Javier Bardem plays José Menéndez.
With information from EFE
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