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CNN
14-05-2025
- CNN
What we know about the Menendez brothers' resentencing and what happens next
CrimeFacebookTweetLink Follow Nearly three decades after Erik and Lyle Menendez were sentenced to life in prison for the murders of their parents, a California judge has reopened a door many believed would remain closed. In a stunning ruling on Tuesday, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic reduced the brothers' sentences from life without parole to 50 years to life – making them eligible for parole. The ruling is the latest twist in a case that has captivated America for decades, with an army of attorneys, family members and online supporters in recent years launching a renewed campaign for the brothers' freedom, fueled in part by a wave of attention brought by a docuseries and a Netflix drama series recounting the case. Here's what we know: Lyle Menendez, 57, and his brother Erik Menendez, 54, have spent most of their adult lives behind bars for the murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, at the family's Beverly Hills home in 1989. The brothers, who were aged 21 and 18 when they carried out the fatal shootings, were convicted of first-degree murder in a 1996 trial, more than two years after separate juries had failed to reach a verdict in their original trials. The brothers admitted to the murders but have argued they acted in self-defense following years of sexual abuse by their father. Prosecutors claimed the killings were driven by the brothers' desire for a multi-million dollar inheritance. Jesic's ruling means the Menendez brothers are immediately eligible for parole under California law because they committed the murders while under the age of 26. The judge said that although the brothers had committed a horrific crime, they deserved 'a lot of credit for changing their lives.' A letter from a prison official in support of resentencing was especially moving, the judge said. The brothers had launched numerous prison programs, including a support group for disabled and elderly inmates, and raised more than $250,000 for a prison beautification initiative, previous court filings said. 'I'm not saying they should be released, it's not for me to decide,' Jesic said, adding, 'one day they should get that chance.' 'It's now up to the parole board and the governor of California,' he said. A hearing with the California state parole board is already scheduled for June 13 as part of a separate bid for freedom by the brothers. The board could either deny the brothers' request or recommend to the governor that they granted parole. If the board recommends parole be granted, the decision will go to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who will have 120 days to act. CNN has reached out to the governor's office and the state parole board for comment on the ruling. The resentencing is one of several legal avenues being pursued by the brothers to secure their release. They have also filed a habeas corpus petition seeking a new trial and have requested clemency from Newsom. Dozens of Menendez relatives say Erik and Lyle have demonstrated years of remorse and rehabilitation since killing their parents. They also argue the severity of the sentence should be revisited due to a deepened cultural understanding of childhood sexual abuse since the murders. The brothers' bid for release received renewed impetus in 2023 when a former member of the boy band Menudo publicly accused Jose Menendez — then a top RCA Records executive — of raping him in the mid-1980s. In recent months, supporters from across the country have gathered at rallies and hearings advocating for the brothers' release. They say prosecutors and the media overlooked the abuse claims and framed the brothers as arrogant, self-entitled heirs to their parents' $14 million estate during their trials in the 1990s. Diane Hernandez, a cousin who lived with the Menendez family, testified Tuesday about Jose's intimidation, including a strict 'hallway rule' that barred others from his time with the brothers. 'Please be merciful,' she urged, calling the brothers 'remarkable human beings at this point.' 'I am touched and humbled by the outpouring of support,' Erik Menendez said in a statement released to ABC News Tuesday night following the ruling. 'This has to be the first step in giving people who have no hope in prison some hope,' he said. 'My goal is to ensure there are no more people spending 35 years in prison without hope. That possibility of having hope that rehabilitation works is more important than anything that happened to me today.' Earlier Tuesday, the brothers said they took 'full responsibility' for the murders as they appeared before the judge remotely from prison. 'I committed an atrocious act against two people who had every right to live, my mom and dad,' Erik said, adding that he 'created a crushing sadness' for his family and there was 'no excuse' for his behavior. 'I will never stop trying to make a difference whether I am inside or outside of prison,' he said. Lyle also admitted to killing his parents, saying he 'was immature' and 'filled with rage.' 'Had I trusted others to help me, I wouldn't have committed these crimes,' he said. 'I didn't think anyone would believe me about my sexual abuse.' Critics argue the murders were calculated acts of greed, rather than acts of desperation by abuse victims. While the brothers' case was championed by the former Los Angeles County district attorney, his successor, Nathan Hochman, has taken a more hardline stance against their release. 'The decision to resentence Erik and Lyle Menendez was a monumental one that has significant implications for the families involved, the community, and the principles of justice,' Hochman said in a statement on Tuesday evening. 'Our office's motions to withdraw the resentencing motion filed by the previous administration ensured that the Court was presented with all the facts before making such a consequential decision.' Earlier Tuesday, Hochman told CNN the brothers had 'fabricated' abuse claims and should first take responsibility for their actions before seeking parole. 'If and when they do, they'll be ready for resentencing,' he said. Hochman also pointed to the recent finding of risk assessments conducted by the state parole board that the brothers would pose a 'moderate' risk of violence if released. CNN's Taylor Romine, Nick Watt, Melissa Gray, Elizabeth Wolfe and Matthew J. Friedman contributed to this report. Additional reporting by the Associated Press.
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Menendez brothers finally admit to decades of lies and killing parents as they become eligible for parole
The Menendez brothers took full responsibility for their heinous crimes moments before a judge agreed to resentence them against the advice of state authorities. Erik and Lyle were just 18 and 21 when they brutally murdered their parents Jose and Kitty Menendez inside their swanky Beverly Hills home in 1996. 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. Admission: The Menendez brothers took full responsibility for their heinous crimes moments before a judge agreed to resentence them against the advice of state authorities Speaking to Judge Michael Jesic in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Tuesday, the duo both made extraordinary admissions of the guilt and shame they've carried in the decades that followed. 'I take full responsibility. I killed my parents,' Lyle, now 56, told the court. 'I made the choice to kill my mom and dad in their own home.' 'I made the choice to make a mockery of the justice system. I offer no excuse and I don't blame my parents.' Lyle went on to express his 'deep shame for what I did,' adding: 'I was impulsive and immature. 'I bottled up my own emotions and anger. I was scared but also filled with rage. Had I had the coping skills and trusted others, I would have not done this. Even after I killed him, I still heard his voice.' Erik also took full responsibility for his actions on the fateful night, telling the court - and a room full of his relatives and supporters - 'I lied to police. I lied to my family.' 'I fired all five rounds at my parents and went back to reload. I'm truly sorry. 'My actions were criminal, selfish, cruel and cowardly. I have no excuse, no justification for what I did. I take full responsibility for my crimes.' The duo won over former LA District Attorney George Gascon, who supported their bid to be resentenced. However when he was ousted in late 2024, incoming DA Nathan Hochman took a vastly different approach to the case, rescinding the recommendation from his office to allow the men to walk free. Hochman argued that the duo were 'not ready' to be resentenced because they had not entirely accepted guilt for their actions. He said he does not believe the pair 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.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anamaria Baralt (@ Joy: Erik's stepdaughter Talia Menendez appeared to fight back tears of joy after the resentencing, left, as the duo's cousin beamed It is unclear whether Tuesday's wholehearted confessions eased the DA's mind at all about the judge's ruling. Judge Jesic ultimately agreed Lyle and Erik had earned a chance at freedom, opting to reduce their sentences from life without parole to 50 years to life. The change means they're immediately eligible to apply for parole under California's youthful offender law because they committed the crime under the age of 26. The state parole board must still decide whether to release them from prison. '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.' But the Menendez brothers' elated family celebrated the decision on Tuesday evening. Ana Maria Baralt, a cousin of the brothers who testified in court on Tuesday, shared her joy after the hearing on Instagram. During the hearing, she said: 'We all, on both sides of the family, believe that 35 years is enough. They are universally forgiven by our family.' After, she revealed she'd spoken with Lyle on the phone and had been in touch with Erik's wife, Tammi. 'We are so excited. We still have to go through the parole process, but the bottom line is Lyle and Erik are not going to die in prison. 'They are going to get out. They are going to rejoin our family... [Erik and Lyle] are also excited.' Baralt offered 'a huge shoutout to Judge Jesic for restoring our faith in the justice system, for reading the law, for applying it appropriately.' Her overjoyed video was shared by Erik's stepdaughter Talia, who was in the courtroom on Tuesday and has tirelessly advocated his release. 'PAROLE BOARD HERE WE COME!' Talia wrote on Instagram. 'Thank you everyone for your countless prayers and support, we truly wouldn't be here without you all. Special thank you to our legal team and everyone involved with making this come to fruition.' The brothers are broadly supported by their relatives, many of whom testified on their behalf on Tuesday. Another cousin, Tamara Goodell, said she had recently taken her 13-year-old son to meet the brothers in prison, and that they would contribute a lot of good to the world if released. Diane Hernandez, who also testified during Erik and Lyle's first trial, spoke about the abuse she witnessed in the Menendez household when she lived with them and the so-called 'hallway rule.' Victims: Jose and Kitty were killed in their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989 'When Jose was with one of the boys … you couldn't even go up the stairs to be on the same floor,' Hernandez said of the father. 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 $14million 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. New interest in the case was sparked by the recent Netflix drama, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story and the true crime documentary The Menendez Brothers. Both films explain how the brothers claimed to police that they returned home from the theater to find their parents had been slaughtered. At first it was feared that a vicious killer was on the loose in Beverly Hills, one of America's wealthiest communities. Doubt: DA Hochman has argued that 'the prior DA's motion did not examine or consider whether the Menendez brothers have exhibited full insight and taken complete responsibility for their crimes by continuing over 30 years to lie about their claims of self-defense Chhilling: A crime scene photo shows the blood-soaked couch where Jose Menendez was shot But cops switched their suspicions to Lyle and Erik after they set about spending their inheritance soon after their parents' deaths. Lyle bought a Porsche Carrera, Rolex watch and two restaurants, while his brother hired a full-time tennis coach to begin competing in tournaments. In all, they spent $700,000 between the time of their parents' deaths and their arrests in March 1990, seven months after the murders. Erik - who said his father abused him from the age of six to 12 - insisted in the new documentary that it's 'absurd' to suggest he was having a good time in the immediate aftermath of the murders. 'Everything was to cover up this horrible pain of not wanting to be alive,' he said. 'One of the things that stopped me from killing myself was that I would be a complete failure to my dad.' The duo also addressed the lies they told during the initial investigation in order to escape punishment. Erik said: 'There should've been a police response, and we would've been arrested. We had no alibi. The gunpowder residue was all over our hands. 'Under normal circumstances, they give you a gunpowder residue test. We would have been arrested immediately. 'There were shells in my car - my car was inside the search area. All they had to do is search my car. If they had just pressed me, I wouldn't have been able to withstand any questions. I was in a completely broken and shattered state of mind. 'I told the detectives I saw smoke which would've been impossible if I didn't do it. It's pretty incredible we were not arrested that night. We should've been.' Gascon had opened the door to possible freedom for the brothers last fall by asking a judge to reduce their sentences. Gascon'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 Gascon 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.
Associated Press
14-05-2025
- Associated Press
The Menendez brothers had their sentences reduced. What's next?
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The 1989 shotgun murders of Jose and Kitty Menendez in Los Angeles gripped the nation. The killings of the entertainment executive and his wife in their wealthy Beverly Hills neighborhood were brutal. Their son Lyle Menendez was the one who called 911, with the brothers initially claiming the killing was Mafia-related or connected to their father's business dealings. Lyle Menendez was attending Princeton University, and his younger brother Erik Menendez was a tennis star. The brothers were later arrested, charged and convicted for their parents' deaths. The brothers have argued that they committed the crimes in self-defense after years of abuse by their father. On Tuesday, the brothers were granted their first chance at freedom in decades. A Los Angeles judge reduced the brothers' sentences from life in prison without parole to 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible for parole. Here's what to know: Why is the case famous? Coming on the heels of the O.J. Simpson trial, the nation was hungry for true crime TV. The brothers' first trial was one of the first to be almost entirely televised on Court TV. It spawned documentaries, television specials and dramatizations. The Netflix drama ' Monsters: Lyle and Erik Menendez Story ' and the documentary 'The Menendez Brothers,' released in the fall of 2024, have been credited for bringing new attention to the case. What happened at resentencing? The brothers' lawyers turned to family members and those who knew the brothers since their conviction to speak to their character and rehabilitation in prison in front of Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic. The Menendez family have supported the brothers and called for their release since their resentencing effort began last fall. Prosecutors, who have opposed the brothers' resentencing, did not call any witnesses. They've argued the brothers haven't taken full responsibility for their crimes. Erik and Lyle Menendez appeared virtually to read their statements to the court. 'You did not deserve what I did to you, but you inspire me to do better,' Erik Menendez said, addressing his family. Jesic issued his decision immediately after the brothers spoke, granting them a new sentence of 50 years to life. How soon could they go before the parole board? The brothers are immediately eligible for parole under California's youthful offender law because they committed the crime at ages 18 and 21, both under the age of 26. Parole suitability hearings are conducted by a state board to determine if a person should be released. An inmate will be scheduled for their first hearing no later than six months following their eligibility date, according to board policy. They already have a hearing before the board scheduled for June 13 in a clemency petition they've submitted to Gov. Gavin Newsom. It's not yet clear if that will serve as their formal parole hearing or if a separate one will be scheduled. Newsom ordered the state parole board to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment for him to determine their danger to the public if released. Anne Bremner, a trial lawyer in Seattle, said the brothers will have some pressure on them to prepare for the parole board and impress upon them that they should be let out. 'My guess is the parole board has been watching this and of course they've done these risk assessments already,' she said. They know 'who these two are, what their alleged crimes were and what they've done since the time that they were incarcerated until today.' What happens if parole is denied or granted? If they are denied at their first parole hearing, they will continue to receive subsequent hearings until they are granted release. If parole is granted, Newsom could still move to override the board. If he lets the parole decision stand, the brothers would be released from prison. What other avenues do they have for release? In May 2023, the brothers' attorneys also filed a petition for habeas corpus to the court, asking for a new trial in light of new evidence of their sexual abuse. LA prosecutors have filed a motion opposing that petition, but its status is unclear. ___ Associated Press writer Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed.
RNZ News
14-05-2025
- RNZ News
Judge grants re-sentencing bid by Menendez brothers for 1989 shotgun murders
By Lisa Richwine , Reuters Erik Menendez (R) and brother Lyle listen to court proceedings during a May 17, 1991 appearance. Photo: Reuters: Lee Celano Lyle and Erik Menendez, serving life sentences for the 1989 shotgun murders of their parents in their Beverly Hills, can be re-sentenced for their crime, a Los Angeles judge ruled on Tuesday, paving the way for the brothers' possible release from prison. The ruling capped a day-long hearing in which several relatives, a retired judge and a former fellow inmate testified in support of defence efforts to shorten the brothers' sentence to time already served, or at least gaining their eligibility for parole . The brothers themselves, now 57 and 54, appeared at the proceedings in Los Angeles County Superior Court via live video feed from prison in San Diego. The brothers were found guilty in 1996 of first-degree murder and sentenced to two consecutive life in prison terms without the possibility of parole for shooting to death their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, on August 20, 1989, as the couple watched television in the family room of their home. At trial the brothers admitted to committing the killings but insisted they did so out of fear that their parents were about to kill them following years of sexual abuse by their father, a wealthy entertainment industry executive, and emotional battering by their mother. Former District Attorney George Gascon petitioned for a re-sentencing last autumn, citing new evidence purported to bolster the brothers' claims that they were molested and a prison record showing they had achieved rehabilitation while incarcerated. Gascon said the pair had paid their debt to society and should be eligible for parole under the state's youthful offender statute since they were younger than 26 at the time of their offence. Lyle was 21 and Erik was 18. But Gascon's successor as DA, Nathan Hochman, opposed the re-sentencing after taking office earlier this year, arguing the brothers have yet to fully acknowledge and accept responsibility for the killings. - Reuters
Sky News
14-05-2025
- Sky News
Menendez brothers' murder sentences reduced - making them eligible for parole
A judge has reduced the Menendez brothers' sentence - meaning they could be eligible for release. Lyle, 57, and Erik, 54, received life sentences without the possibility of parole after being convicted of murdering their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, at their Beverly Hills home in 1989. Last year, Los Angeles district attorney George Gascon asked a judge to change the brothers' sentence from life without the possibility of parole to 50 years to life. On Tuesday, a Los Angeles judge ruled that they can be resentenced for their crime - to that 50 years to life - paving the way for their parole and possible release. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
