«Who is Judith Smith, who identified the Menendez brothers as the killers?»
22 september 2024 в 00:13
Lyle and Erik Menendez continue to serve a life sentence in prison for the brutal murder of their parents on August 20, 1989, when the brothers, then 21 and 18 years old, shot them at the family estate in Beverly Hills.
Thirty-five years later, Ryan Murphy’s series «Monsters: The Menendez Brothers Story» — now available on Netflix since September 19 — has revived interest in the Menendez brothers, who were not initially considered primary suspects. This changed when Judalon Smith, the lover of the brothers' psychologist, Dr. Jerome Oziel, told the police that Erik confessed to the murders during therapy.
Here are 5 things to know about the person who led to the arrest of Lyle and Erik, who are now 56 and 53 years old respectively.
Smith met the married Oziel in June 1989 while running a cassette copying business, and offered to sell recordings of his psychology sessions. They began a romance, and Judalon even moved in with Jerome and his wife Laurel for several months during their relationship, according to the Los Angeles Times. Laurel claimed that Jerome was honest with her about the affair, but also stated that they felt «hostages to this woman in our own home».
Erik confessed to his psychiatrist, Dr. Oziel, who then shared the information with Smith. However, it was only after Oziel ended his extramarital affair with Smith several months later that she went to the police and revealed what she knew about the confession. When she informed the police, she claimed that Erik confessed to the murders during therapy and that there were audio recordings of this confession. The brothers were arrested in March 1990, leading to a lengthy legal battle over the admissibility of Oziel’s recordings.
«I never thought I believed in evil, but when I heard these boys talk, I believed», - Smith told investigative journalist Dominick Dunne in 1990.
Oziel’s testimony became crucial in court, despite challenges related to doctor-patient confidentiality. He claimed that the brothers threatened his life, which allowed his testimony to be admitted.
Smith testified that Jerome convinced the Menendez brothers to record a session because «he needed them to say compromising things on tape so we had a record for protection». She also claimed that he told Erik and Lyle that the recording would demonstrate their remorse for killing their parents.
Smith initially claimed that she listened outside the office door, as Oziel allegedly instructed her to eavesdrop during discussions of the brothers' parents' murders. However, in court, she testified that she did not hear their direct confession to the murders. Smith claimed that Oziel brainwashed her, making her believe she heard these things.
Smith filed two lawsuits against her former lover, alleging that he allegedly attacked her, raped her, and forced her to take prescription drugs, according to the Los Angeles Times in 1993. Later, she testified that she believed Oziel planned to kill her, which led her to go into hiding for her own protection.
Smith refused to give interviews until she spoke out about the attention her testimony received in the true crime documentary series Murder Made Me Famous.
«For me, it was a little confusing how the press behaved», - she said. «I really didn’t understand the attack I had to endure for doing the right thing»
Thirty-five years later, Ryan Murphy’s series «Monsters: The Menendez Brothers Story» — now available on Netflix since September 19 — has revived interest in the Menendez brothers, who were not initially considered primary suspects. This changed when Judalon Smith, the lover of the brothers' psychologist, Dr. Jerome Oziel, told the police that Erik confessed to the murders during therapy.
Here are 5 things to know about the person who led to the arrest of Lyle and Erik, who are now 56 and 53 years old respectively.
Smith met the married Oziel in June 1989 while running a cassette copying business, and offered to sell recordings of his psychology sessions. They began a romance, and Judalon even moved in with Jerome and his wife Laurel for several months during their relationship, according to the Los Angeles Times. Laurel claimed that Jerome was honest with her about the affair, but also stated that they felt «hostages to this woman in our own home».
Erik confessed to his psychiatrist, Dr. Oziel, who then shared the information with Smith. However, it was only after Oziel ended his extramarital affair with Smith several months later that she went to the police and revealed what she knew about the confession. When she informed the police, she claimed that Erik confessed to the murders during therapy and that there were audio recordings of this confession. The brothers were arrested in March 1990, leading to a lengthy legal battle over the admissibility of Oziel’s recordings.
«I never thought I believed in evil, but when I heard these boys talk, I believed», - Smith told investigative journalist Dominick Dunne in 1990.
Oziel’s testimony became crucial in court, despite challenges related to doctor-patient confidentiality. He claimed that the brothers threatened his life, which allowed his testimony to be admitted.
Smith testified that Jerome convinced the Menendez brothers to record a session because «he needed them to say compromising things on tape so we had a record for protection». She also claimed that he told Erik and Lyle that the recording would demonstrate their remorse for killing their parents.
Smith initially claimed that she listened outside the office door, as Oziel allegedly instructed her to eavesdrop during discussions of the brothers' parents' murders. However, in court, she testified that she did not hear their direct confession to the murders. Smith claimed that Oziel brainwashed her, making her believe she heard these things.
Smith filed two lawsuits against her former lover, alleging that he allegedly attacked her, raped her, and forced her to take prescription drugs, according to the Los Angeles Times in 1993. Later, she testified that she believed Oziel planned to kill her, which led her to go into hiding for her own protection.
Smith refused to give interviews until she spoke out about the attention her testimony received in the true crime documentary series Murder Made Me Famous.
«For me, it was a little confusing how the press behaved», - she said. «I really didn’t understand the attack I had to endure for doing the right thing»
© Puhova Marina
