Latest news with #L.A.DA
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
Menendez Brothers Resentencing Now Off Until Next Month As Lawyers & Judge Look Over Parole Board Report Ordered By Gavin Newsom
The Menendez brothers will still get their day in court, but the long-incarcerated siblings will have to wait until next month to see whether they will be resentenced for the 1989 shotgun murder of their parents. With the brothers joining via video, LA Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic initially decided Thursday morning to go forward with the scheduled two-day resentencing session and cast aside an eleventh-hour motion of continuance from the LA County District Attorney's office over a state parole board risk-assessment report ordered earlier this year by Gov. Gavin Newsom. However, after some fireworks between Nathan Hochman's office and defense attorneys in and outside the Van Nuys courthouse, the judge has pushed back any resentencing hearing until at least May 9. More from Deadline L.A. DA Wants Menendez Brothers' Resentencing Delayed Again Now That Gavin Newsom Has Pivotal Parole Board Report Judge Denies L.A. DA Motion To Delay Menendez Brothers' Resentencing Hearing; Defense Lawyer Accuses Prosecution Of Playing Politics With Case 'Emily In Paris': One Main Cast Member Not Returning As Season 5 Sets Start Of Production With all sides getting an opportunity to look over the semi-completed report and contemplate its admissibility, that hearing next month could be closed and take place in the judge's chambers due to sensitive material in the report. In fact, the May 9 hearing could be consumed with motions from both sides and never even get around to resentencing. Also, the confidential and unfinished report is but one of many assets the parole board will use to assess whether to keep the siblings in or out of prison. Back in the media and public spotlight in no small part due to the success of the Netflix and Ryan Murphy series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story series and some documentaries claiming new evidence, the then 18- and 21-year-old Menendez brothers now insist the shooting of José Menendez and Kitty Menendez was self-defense against the ongoing sexual abuse by their record company executive father. Prosecutors for the DA's office and the defense's Mark Geragos and Bryan Freedman were still conferring with Jesic for a few minutes after the decision to delay until May was made, but it was clear to all that this was over for now. Originally, even though Jesic said he would not have a decision this week, the resentencing was supposed to run today and Friday. Already delayed several times because of elections, wildfires and more, those dates have now been scrubbed from the court calendar. None of the developments please the defense and the Menendez family, many of whom traveled from afar to be at this week's hearings. 'It's become a mockery,' Freedman said of Hochman and his office outside the courtroom after the pause was put in place. 'Does he have a personal grudge against Lyle and Erik?' the attorney added, noting the defense will be filing paperwork to have the DA's office recused from the case. In court today, Geragos said he had 'lost faith' in Hochman to conduct himself fairly, saying he was going to move 'to have the District Attorney thrown off this case.' Arguing against the risk assessment being introduced into the hearing, Geragos told the court 'the family is very upset but they are willing to put their lives on hold for a little bit longer' for the brothers. Outside after today's hearing was called off, he ramped it up and called the matter a 'charade' by a 'DA who made up his mind and did no hard work.' After the break, Jesic told the lawyers and Menendez family members that there could be material in the risk-assessment report that may constitute evidence and alter any questioning of witnesses. Even with unresolved issues of the DA's office being accused of being abusive to the family and violating their rights as victims by unexpectedly showing bloody 1989 crime scene photos in court last week, the judge made it clear that the delay was to ensure the report is treated with the utmost care. This latest delay comes after a two-hour break that ended at 1:30 p.m. as prosecutors, the defense and judge bartered and petitioned the governor's office for the full report and the waiving of privilege to see it. Weighing a potential clemency for the brothers from their 1996 sentence of life without parole, Newsom in late February ordered the assessment as part of an overall reexamination of the case. That reexamination will culminate June 13 with individual hearings for each brother before the parole board. The date is important because that is why the report was shared with Deputy DA Habib Balian, who is overseeing the resentencing and the case's parole aspects for Hochman. Under California regulations, a portion of the risk-assessment report is to be handed over to the principal parties for review 60 days before any clemency hearing and is subject to correction and updating — that is why Balian got it earlier this week. After that June hearing, and the political winds of the Golden State, Newsom would make his clemency decision. Elected in a landslide last year over George Gascón, who started the resentencing process the current DA is seeking to blunt, Hochman today reiterated his contention that the brothers have after all these decades not 'come clean with … information' on 'why they brutally killed their parents.' No one said it today in Van Nuys, but it is worth noting that April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Best of Deadline 'Ransom Canyon' Soundtrack: All The Songs You'll Hear In The New Netflix Western Romance Series Everything We Know About 'Emily In Paris' Season 5 So Far Everything We Know About Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners': From The Themes To How It Was Shot
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
Menendez Brothers Resentencing Now Off Until Next Month As Lawyers & Judge Look Over Parole Board Report Ordered By Gavin Newsom
BREAKING … The Menendez brothers will still get their day in court, but the long incarcerated siblings will have to wait until next month to see if they will be resentenced or not for the 1989 shotgun murder of their parents. With the brothers joining via video, Judge Michael Jesic initially decided this morning to go forward with the two-day scheduled resentencing session this morning and cast aside an 11th hour motion of continuance from the LA County District Attorney's office over a state parole board risk assessment report ordered earlier this year by Gov. Gavin Newsom. However, after some fireworks between Nathan Hochman's office and defense attorneys in and outside the Van Nuys courthouse, the LA Superior Court judge has pushed back any resentencing hearing until at least May 9. More from Deadline Judge Denies L.A. DA Motion To Delay Menendez Brothers' Resentencing Hearing; Defense Lawyer Accuses Prosecution Of Playing Politics With Case L.A. DA Wants Menendez Brothers' Resentencing Delayed Again Now That Gavin Newsom Has Pivotal Parole Board Report "A Grotesque Spectacle": Menendez Brothers' Family Takes L.A. DA To Court Over Bloody Crime Scene Photos Shown At Resentencing Hearing, Allege Violation Of Victims Rights Law With all sides getting an opportunity to look over the semi-completed report and contemplate its admissibility, that hearing next month could be closed and take place in the judge's chambers due to sensitive material in that risk assessment report. In fact, the May 9 hearing could be consumed with motions from both sides and never even get around to resentencing, Also, the confidential and unfinished risk assessment report is but one of many aspects of what the parole board uses to assess keeping the siblings in or out of prison. Back in the media and public spotlight in no small part due to the success of the Netflix and Ryan Murphy series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story series and some documentaries claiming new evidence, the Menendez brothers now insist the shooting of José Menendez and Kitty Menendez was self-defense against the ongoing sexual abuse by their record company executive father. Prosecutors for the DA's office and the defense's Mark Geragos and Bryan Freedman were still conferring with Judge Jesic for a few minutes after the decision to delay until May was made, but it was clear to all that this was over for now. Originally, even though Judge Jesic said he would not have a decision this week, the resentencing was supposed to run today and April delayed several times before because of elections, wildfires and more, those dates have just been scrubbed from the court calendar. None of which pleases the defense and the Menendez family, many of whom traveled far and wide to be at this week's hearings. 'It's become a mockery,' Freedman said of Hochman and his office outside the courtroom after the pause was put in place. 'Does he have a personal grudge against Lyle and Erik?' the attorney added, noting the defense will be filing paperwork to have the DA's office recused from the case. In court today, Geragos said he had 'lost faith' in Hochman to conduct himself fairly. After the break, Judge Jesic told the lawyers, Menendez family members that there could be material in the risk assessment report that may constitute evidence and alter any questioning of witnesses. Even with unresolved issues of the DA's office being accused of being abusive to the family and violating their rights as victims by unexpectedly showing 1989 crime scene photos in court last week, Jude Jesic made it apparent it is to ensure the report is treated with the utmost care that he kicked everything down the road. This new delay in the much delayed resentencing comes after a two-hour break that ended at 1:30 pm PT as prosecutors, the defense and Judge Jesic bartered and petitioned the governor's office for the full report and waiving of privilege to see it. Weighing a potential clemency for the 1996 life without parole sentenced Erik and Lyle Menendez, Newsom in late February ordered the assessment as part of an overall reexamination of the case and the siblings' rehabilitation. That reexamination will culminate in individual hearings for each brother before the parole board on June 13. The day is important because that is why the report was shared with Deputy DA Habib Balian, who is overseeing the resentencing and the parole aspects of the case for Hochman. Under California regulations, a portion of the risk assessment report, which is subject to correction and updating. is to be handed over to the principal parties for their review 60 days before any clemency hearing, and is subject to correction — that is why Balian got it earlier this week. Out of that June hearing, and the political winds of the Golden State, Newsom would make his decision to grant clemency or not. Elected in a landslide last year against George Gascón, who started the resentencing process the current DA is seeking to blunt, Hochman today reiterated his contention that the brothers have after all these decades not 'come clean with ..information' on 'why they brutally killed their parents.' Best of Deadline 'Ransom Canyon' Soundtrack: All The Songs You'll Hear In The New Netflix Western Romance Series Everything We Know About 'Emily In Paris' Season 5 So Far Everything We Know About Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners': From The Themes To How It Was Shot
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Menendez Family Bemoans DA's Sentencing Recommendation, but Looks to Newsom's Clemency Talks as ‘Sigh of Relief'
Cousins of Erik and Lyle Menendez said on Thursday that Gov. Gavin Newsom's clemency talks for the incarcerated brothers is 'a sigh of relief' following 'very disparaging' comments from Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman last week. Anamaria Baralt, who is a first cousin, and Tamara Goodell, a second cousin, held a Justice for Erik and Lyle Press Conference addressing their hopes of a pardon for the brothers, who were sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the 1989 murders of their parents, José and Kitty Menendez. 'This is a pretty exciting time for us as the family of Erik and Lyle Menendez,' Baralt said. She hailed Newsom's decision to begin the process of a risk assessment from the parole board as 'a positive step towards Erik and Lyle's release.' She added, 'We are incredibly grateful that Governor Newsom is paying attention to this case, particularly those of us [who are] older family members. It is a huge sigh of relief that someone in a seat of power is paying attention to what we have seen up close since Erik and Lyle have been incarcerated. We have seen their rehabilitation over the last three decades with no hope of release, until now.' Baralt also said that the two brothers, who are now in their 50s, 'really do meet the standard for this process,' citing the many ways they have helped their fellow inmates, including those in hospice and with disabilities. 'They have run several programs to mentor inmates who they knew would see the freedom that they would not. That is remarkable,' she shared. Baralt admitted the strong possibility that this avenue of freedom, like the chance of a resentencing, might end in defeat for the family. 'We'd be foolish if we did not recognize that and emotionally prepare for that,' she added. 'I hope not.' Hochman took office in December, replacing former DA George Gascón, who actively advocated for the brothers' release. Hochman is reviewing both cases separately, but said last Friday that he does not believe their accounts of abuse at the hands of their father, dismissing them as 'lies and deception.' 'Gascón seemed much more open to modern thought processes of [abuse victims],' Goodell noted. 'What we heard from the L.A. DA's office the other day felt very disparaging. It felt like a continuation of the narrative from 1989 and it was very frustrating. It was incredibly disappointing to hear that there is no mention of the rehabilitation, no mention of the positive contributions that Erik and Lyle have made to the prison system.' The post Menendez Family Bemoans DA's Sentencing Recommendation, but Looks to Newsom's Clemency Talks as 'Sigh of Relief' appeared first on TheWrap.
