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Daily Mail
28 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Erik Menendez smirks while achieving 'top academic excellence' from behind bars as convicted killer awaits crucial decision
New pictures emerged of Erik Menendez smirking as he accepts a bachelor's degree with top academic honors from behind bars. The images were shared by his proud stepdaughter as the convicted killer awaits a crucial decision from the California parole board. The parole board will determine whether he can walk free from prison after his life sentence without the possibility of parole was reduced in May. Erik and his older brother Lyle were imprisoned for life after murdering their parents Kitty and Jose inside their swanky Beverly Hills home in 1989. But following a years-long campaign for their case to be reviewed, a judge ultimately decided to reduce their sentences to 50 years to life, meaning they are now eligible for parole. Erik's stepdaughter Talia shared a carousel of new images on Wednesday boasting of his achievements behind bars as he anxiously awaits the life-changing news. 'My dad graduated from UC Irvine (UCI) with his bachelor's degree - summa cum laude,' she wrote. 'For those who don't know, that means he graduated with the highest honors, recognizing top academic excellence.' In the happy snaps, Erik, 54, beamed as he stood shoulder to shoulder with other graduates wearing a cap and gown. In another photo, Erik posed alongside about 30 others, many of whom made a sign with their hands. 'Words can't describe how proud I am of him,' Talia said. 'Watching him go after his goals with focus and dedication, no matter the timing or obstacles, has been one of the most inspiring things in my life. 'This isn't just a diploma, it's proof that it's never too late to chase your dreams. Congratulations, to my father. I am so beyond proud of this man!' Talia also praised the other graduates in the class in the celebratory post, signing off with a message to followers that it's 'never too late to make your dreams your reality.' A total of 15 inmates from the prison were able to earn their bachelor's degree as part of a special UCI 'Lifted' program, which gives inmates the opportunity to further their education from behind bars. All 15 graduates majored in sociology, while 11 minored in English. Last year was the inaugural year of the program, and Erik's older brother Lyle Menendez took part. The brothers allege they snapped after suffering years of sexual abuse at the hands of their father, and were let down by their mother who turned a blind eye The brothers' attorneys have long argued that their thirst for knowledge and pursuit of education during their time in prison proves they have spent the time wisely and bettered themselves. The duo were 18 and 21 at the time they killed their parents. Defense attorneys argued the brothers acted out of self-defense after years of sexual abuse by their father, while prosecutors said the brothers killed their parents for a multimillion-dollar inheritance. In Los Angeles County Superior Court in May, Judge Michael Jesic gave the brothers a renewed sense of hope by reducing their sentences. 'I'm not saying they should be released, it's not for me to decide,' Jesic said. 'I do believe they've done enough in the past 35 years, that they should get that chance.' The previous LA County District Attorney George Gascón had opened the door to possible freedom for the brothers last fall by asking a judge to reduce their sentences. Gascón's office said the case would've been handled differently today due to modern understandings of sexual abuse and trauma, and the brothers' rehabilitation over three decades in prison. A resentencing petition laid out by Gascón focuses on the brothers' accomplishments and rehabilitation. Since their conviction, the brothers have gotten an education, participated in self-help classes and started various support groups for their fellow inmates. But current district attorney Nathan Hochman said after he was elected that he believes the brothers are not ready for resentencing because 'they have not come clean' about their crimes. His office also has said it does not believe they were sexually abused. 'Our position is not "no," it's not "never," it's "not yet,"' Hochman said. 'They have not fully accepted responsibility for all their criminal conduct.' On August 20, 1989, armed with two shotguns, the brothers shot both parents to death as they watched a movie at their Beverly Hills mansion. Their trial prompted worldwide headlines. Prosecutors said their motive was greed, as they stood to inherit $14 million from their parents. The brothers insisted they acted against a father who sexually abused them for years and a mother who turned a blind eye to the abuse. The first trial ended with a hung jury. But at a second trial in 1996 - where the judge refused to allow any evidence about the brothers being molested by their father - they were convicted and sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole.
Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
Richard Gerald Jordan: Man who was on death row in Mississippi for almost 50 years executed
A man who was on death row in Mississippi for almost 50 years has been executed. Richard Gerald Jordan kidnapped and killed Edwina Marter, a stay-at-home mother who was married to a banker, in a violent ransom scheme. The 79-year-old, a Vietnam War veteran who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, died by lethal injection at 6.16pm local time (12.16am UK time) on Wednesday. Jordan was the longest-serving man on death row in Mississippi - and had sued the state over its three-drug execution protocol, arguing it was inhumane. When given an opportunity to make a final statement, he said: "First I would like to thank everyone for a humane way of doing this. I want to apologise to the victim's family." Jordan's wife Marsha and his lawyer Krissy Nobile attended the execution, and dabbed their eyes several times as it took place. He thanked them both and asked for forgiveness, and his final words were: "I will see you on the other side, all of you." Mrs Marter's husband Charles and her two sons were not present. 1:00 This is the third execution to take place in Mississippi over the past 10 years, with the last taking place back in December 2022. A man was also put to death in Florida on Tuesday, meaning this is shaping up to be the year with the most executions since 2015. Back in 1976, Jordan had called the Gulf National Bank. An operator said Charles Marter could take the call. He then hung up and found Mr Marter's home address in the phone book, and kidnapped his wife Edwina. According to court records, he fatally shot her in a forest - and then rang Mr Marter to demand a $25,000 ransom for her safe return. Her son, who was 11 years old at the time of the murder, previously said that the execution "should have happened a long time ago". Eric Marter added: "I'm not really interested in giving him the benefit of the doubt. He needs to be punished." 6:14 Jordan's lawyer had attempted to argue that a jury never got to hear about his experiences in Vietnam, but her appeal was dismissed by the Supreme Court. A petition had also asked Mississippi governor Tate Reeves for clemency, and said Jordan suffered severe PTSD after serving three back-to-back tours, which could have been a factor in his crime. Franklin Rosenblatt from the National Institute of Military Justice said: "His war service, his war trauma, was considered not relevant in his murder trial. "We just know so much more than we did 10 years ago, and certainly during Vietnam, about the effect of war trauma on the brain and how that affects ongoing behaviours." But Eric Marter said he disagreed with this argument, adding: "I know what he did. He wanted money and he couldn't take her with him. And so he did what he did."
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Karmelo Anthony's brutal reality check after murder indictment for stabbing and killing high school athlete
Karmelo Anthony could be sent back to jail after being indicted on first-degree murder charges for fatally stabbing a fellow high school athlete during a track meet, the Daily Mail has learned. The 18-year-old, who admitted to attacking and stabbing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf in Frisco, Texas, in April, is currently under house arrest. However, his spokesman, Dominique Alexander, told the Daily Mail that Anthony may be returned to custody following his indictment by a Collin County grand jury on Tuesday. Now that the indictment is in place, the case will be assigned to a district judge who could overturn a controversial decision by a magistrate to reduce Anthony's bond from $1 million to $250,000. 'We don't know who the judge will be,' Alexander said. 'But any judge can make any decision they want. It's entirely up to them.' Anthony was 17 at the time of the incident and has since turned 18. He maintains he acted in self-defense during the altercation at the high school meet in the affluent Dallas suburb. However, he has yet to explain why he brought a weapon to a school-sanctioned event. Local police say the boys exchanged words when Metcalf challenged Anthony, a student at Centennial High School, for sitting under the team tent for Memorial High School. 'A lot of stuff gets stolen,' Hunter, Metcalf's twin who was also there, told Fox News hours after he watched his brother die. 'Our coaches always told us don't let other schools mess with our stuff.' Anthony was arrested shortly after the attack, telling arresting officers who called him the alleged killer, 'I'm not alleged. I did it' After spending about two weeks behind bars, Anthony's father went before a local judge, claiming the family had no money and requesting their teen son's bond be lowered from $1 million. In a widely criticized decision, Magistrate Judge Angela Tucker agreed to lower Anthony's bond to $250,000 on the condition he remain under house arrest and in the custody of his dad. Under the conditions of the house arrest, the embattled teen must wear an electronic monitor and only leave the house with 'prior approval of the court,' according to public records obtained by 'Defendant must be supervised by a parent or adult designee at all times. Defendant shall have no contact (direct or indirect) with the family of the alleged victim,' the court order state. 'Defendant may travel to his attorney's office for scheduled meetings approved by the Court. Defendant must check-in with the bailiff of the Court every Friday until the case in indicted into a different Court.' After his release from jail, Daily Mail exclusively reported how the Anthonys had been renting a nearly $900,000 home in a luxury neighborhood. Despite having security guards keeping anyone who wasn't authorized by the family out of the swanky community, a judge allowed the teen to relocate after he claimed he was no longer safe in his house. Alexander told Daily Mail he's had no indication whether the house arrest will be revoked at this time. 'Right now, there's nothing of any violation by Karmelo. Everything has been respected,' he said of the court orders. 'Of course, we would think that the judge, whatever judge it's assigned to, would honor that.' Regardless of whether Anthony remains under house arrest, the victim's father told Daily Mail Tuesday that he was pleased with the indictment. 'I fully believe that justice will be served for Austin Metcalf,' his father Jeff said. 'I look forward to the forthcoming trial. But it will never bring my son back.' Just last week, reported on footage of the stabbing released by the Frisco Independent School District. The video, recorded on a fixed camera at David Kuykendall Stadium, did not show any fighting, pushing or physical altercation between the boys prior to the knifing. Instead, the clip viewed by Daily Mail at school district headquarters, showed several people sitting under the Memorial High School team tent. Without any kind of apparent escalation, people can be seen running and walking away from the tent. Later, what appears to be Metcalf's body is moved out of the stadium bleachers to a walkway near the bottom of the seating area. The surveillance appears to challenge the self-defense claim made by the murder suspect, offering little visible evidence that Anthony was in immediate danger before the attack. The Frisco Police Department would not comment on whether it is the only video of the slaying.
