The Menendez brothers may have a chance at freedom: new evidence and upcoming hearing
24 october 2024 в 19:37
Lyle and Erik Menendez are once again the subject of increased interest as they continue to serve a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the murder of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, committed in 1989.
Their case has once again attracted attention thanks to Ryan Murphy’s series «Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story», - and then a documentary film on Netflix, including recorded phone calls between the brothers and director Alejandro Hartmann from the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, where they are serving their sentence.
With this increased attention, new evidence, and an upcoming court hearing, Lyle and Erik, who are now 56 and 53 years old, may have a chance at freedom. To keep readers informed about the Menendez brothers' case, HollywoodLife has gathered all the key information below.
The court hearing for the Menendez brothers' case is scheduled for November 29, 2024, according to Variety. This came after evidence was discovered indicating that their father, Jose, sexually abused his children.
«We have been provided with evidence, including a photocopy of a letter allegedly sent by one of the brothers to another family member, stating that he was a victim of abuse», - shared Los Angeles prosecutor George Gascon, as reported by the publication. He also mentioned, «We have received evidence provided by the defense, including statements from a member of the Menudo group who claimed he was sexually abused by the father».
Roy Rossello, a former member of the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo, spoke out in the 2023 Peacock documentary «Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed», - where he claimed to have been a victim of abuse by a music performer when he was 14 years old.
It is currently unclear whether the brothers will face a retrial, as the court hearing has not yet taken place and is only preliminary.
However, at a press conference on Tuesday evening, Gascon responded to a request for an update on the potential review of the brothers' sentence, stating, «As I said 10 days ago, I will make a decision within 10 days or so. I plan to make a decision by the end of this week».
He concluded with a final note: «Yes, by the end of this week».
The fact that the brothers, then 21 and 18 years old, committed the crime was never in doubt during the trial, but their motives have divided opinions over the decades.
During the trial, the brothers claimed to have been victims of abuse throughout their childhood by their parents. In their first trial, their lawyer Leslie Abramson argued that they killed their parents in self-defense, fearing that their parents would kill them if they revealed the years of alleged abuse they suffered at the hands of their father. She told The Washington Post in 1996, «They are not killers. They are troubled children in a very difficult and grotesque home environment, and they broke». At the time, many believed that the motive was the inheritance money from their parents.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1−800−656-HOPE (4673). A trained staff member will provide confidential, impartial support, as well as local resources to help with healing, recovery, and more.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1−800−662-HELP (4357)
Their case has once again attracted attention thanks to Ryan Murphy’s series «Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story», - and then a documentary film on Netflix, including recorded phone calls between the brothers and director Alejandro Hartmann from the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, where they are serving their sentence.
With this increased attention, new evidence, and an upcoming court hearing, Lyle and Erik, who are now 56 and 53 years old, may have a chance at freedom. To keep readers informed about the Menendez brothers' case, HollywoodLife has gathered all the key information below.
The court hearing for the Menendez brothers' case is scheduled for November 29, 2024, according to Variety. This came after evidence was discovered indicating that their father, Jose, sexually abused his children.
«We have been provided with evidence, including a photocopy of a letter allegedly sent by one of the brothers to another family member, stating that he was a victim of abuse», - shared Los Angeles prosecutor George Gascon, as reported by the publication. He also mentioned, «We have received evidence provided by the defense, including statements from a member of the Menudo group who claimed he was sexually abused by the father».
Roy Rossello, a former member of the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo, spoke out in the 2023 Peacock documentary «Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed», - where he claimed to have been a victim of abuse by a music performer when he was 14 years old.
It is currently unclear whether the brothers will face a retrial, as the court hearing has not yet taken place and is only preliminary.
However, at a press conference on Tuesday evening, Gascon responded to a request for an update on the potential review of the brothers' sentence, stating, «As I said 10 days ago, I will make a decision within 10 days or so. I plan to make a decision by the end of this week».
He concluded with a final note: «Yes, by the end of this week».
The fact that the brothers, then 21 and 18 years old, committed the crime was never in doubt during the trial, but their motives have divided opinions over the decades.
During the trial, the brothers claimed to have been victims of abuse throughout their childhood by their parents. In their first trial, their lawyer Leslie Abramson argued that they killed their parents in self-defense, fearing that their parents would kill them if they revealed the years of alleged abuse they suffered at the hands of their father. She told The Washington Post in 1996, «They are not killers. They are troubled children in a very difficult and grotesque home environment, and they broke». At the time, many believed that the motive was the inheritance money from their parents.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1−800−656-HOPE (4673). A trained staff member will provide confidential, impartial support, as well as local resources to help with healing, recovery, and more.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1−800−662-HELP (4357)
© Artemenko Olga
