Menendez could be granted freedom after 35 years
1 november 2024 в 00:37
Lyle and Erik Menendez could have a chance at freedom 35 years after the widely discussed events of August 20, 1989, when the brothers, then 21 and 18 years old, fatally wounded their parents in the family home in Beverly Hills.
Los Angeles Prosecutor George Gascon filed a motion in court on Wednesday in support of the Menendez brothers' request for clemency from Governor Gavin Newsom. In a statement, Gascon expressed: «I strongly support clemency for Erik and Lyle Menendez, who are currently serving life sentences without the possibility of parole. They have served 34 years and continued their education, working on creating programs to support the rehabilitation of fellow inmates».
Here is what clemency entails and what may happen next.
Clemency is a legal power that allows a government official, usually a governor or president, to mitigate the severity of a punishment or grant relief from a criminal sentence. This may include:
A hearing on this matter may take place within 30−45 days, after which a judge from the Los Angeles Supreme Court will determine if the brothers will be reconsidered.
Earlier, Prosecutor Gascon announced plans to seek a sentence review for the brothers, possibly under a manslaughter charge, which could lead to their immediate release if approved by the judge. A court hearing is scheduled for December 11 to discuss Gascon’s proposal to change their sentences. However, this week’s clemency petition filed by the brothers' attorney will bypass the review process initiated by Gascon.
Gascon stated that he supports a sentence review for the brothers to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole, which typically involves a sentence of 50 years to life imprisonment. However, since the crimes were committed when the brothers were under 26 years old, they are eligible for parole under California law.
Describing the brothers as «model inmates», - Gascon told CNN that he believes there is a high likelihood they will be granted parole if the case reaches the parole board. An attorney for one of the brothers expressed hope that they could be home by Thanksgiving.
Gascon’s review of the case was prompted by a habeas corpus petition filed by the Menendez brothers' attorneys in 2023, citing new evidence and a recent California law allowing the court to reconsider sentences in such cases during a review.
Among the new evidence cited in the 2023 petition is a written statement from former Menudo group member Roy Rossello, who claimed that the brothers' father, Jose Menendez, sexually assaulted him in the 1980s. Additionally, the attorneys pointed to a letter Erik wrote to his cousin just months before the murder, indicating that he was a victim of abuse.
In his petition, Gascon emphasized the brothers' efforts at rehabilitation in prison, highlighting that they had no expectations of release at this time. The brothers participated in victim impact programs, workshops, and various events, as well as created several initiatives to help those in need in their community.
«Erik and Lyle Menendez have been recognized for their hard work, professionalism, and significant contributions to improving their community», - the statement read
Los Angeles Prosecutor George Gascon filed a motion in court on Wednesday in support of the Menendez brothers' request for clemency from Governor Gavin Newsom. In a statement, Gascon expressed: «I strongly support clemency for Erik and Lyle Menendez, who are currently serving life sentences without the possibility of parole. They have served 34 years and continued their education, working on creating programs to support the rehabilitation of fellow inmates».
Here is what clemency entails and what may happen next.
Clemency is a legal power that allows a government official, usually a governor or president, to mitigate the severity of a punishment or grant relief from a criminal sentence. This may include:
A hearing on this matter may take place within 30−45 days, after which a judge from the Los Angeles Supreme Court will determine if the brothers will be reconsidered.
Earlier, Prosecutor Gascon announced plans to seek a sentence review for the brothers, possibly under a manslaughter charge, which could lead to their immediate release if approved by the judge. A court hearing is scheduled for December 11 to discuss Gascon’s proposal to change their sentences. However, this week’s clemency petition filed by the brothers' attorney will bypass the review process initiated by Gascon.
Gascon stated that he supports a sentence review for the brothers to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole, which typically involves a sentence of 50 years to life imprisonment. However, since the crimes were committed when the brothers were under 26 years old, they are eligible for parole under California law.
Describing the brothers as «model inmates», - Gascon told CNN that he believes there is a high likelihood they will be granted parole if the case reaches the parole board. An attorney for one of the brothers expressed hope that they could be home by Thanksgiving.
Gascon’s review of the case was prompted by a habeas corpus petition filed by the Menendez brothers' attorneys in 2023, citing new evidence and a recent California law allowing the court to reconsider sentences in such cases during a review.
Among the new evidence cited in the 2023 petition is a written statement from former Menudo group member Roy Rossello, who claimed that the brothers' father, Jose Menendez, sexually assaulted him in the 1980s. Additionally, the attorneys pointed to a letter Erik wrote to his cousin just months before the murder, indicating that he was a victim of abuse.
In his petition, Gascon emphasized the brothers' efforts at rehabilitation in prison, highlighting that they had no expectations of release at this time. The brothers participated in victim impact programs, workshops, and various events, as well as created several initiatives to help those in need in their community.
«Erik and Lyle Menendez have been recognized for their hard work, professionalism, and significant contributions to improving their community», - the statement read
© Smirnova Olga
