Oct. 24 2024, Printed 5:28 p.m. ET
Los Angeles County District Lawyer George Gascón has advisable a resentencing for Erik and Lyle Menendez, who’ve spent practically 35 years behind bars for killing their mother and father, José and Kitty Menendez.
The D.A. stated he would suggest to the court docket on Friday that the brothers’ life sentence be eliminated, leaving them eligible for parole instantly, RadarOnline.com can reveal.
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The replace, introduced at a information convention on Thursday, follows a reevaluation of the case by prosecutors as a result of discovery of recent proof.
Erik was 18 and Lyle was 21 once they shot their mother and father 14 instances inside their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989.
The 2 obtained life sentences with out parole at their second trial in 1996 after the primary resulted in a mistrial.
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In the course of the first trial, their legal professional claimed that the brothers killed their mother and father in self-defense, asserting that they feared for his or her lives in the event that they revealed the years of alleged abuse that they had endured from José.
Erik and Lyle by no means denied committing the crime.
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Not too long ago, new authorized filings supplied extra particulars concerning the abuse the brothers reportedly suffered by the hands of their father.
The stunning proof included a letter Erik wrote to his cousin, Andy Cano, simply eight months earlier than the murders.
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Within the handwritten notice, Erik wrote: “I have been making an attempt to keep away from dad. It is nonetheless taking place Andy nevertheless it’s worse for me now. I by no means know when it may occur and it is driving me loopy. Each night time I keep up considering he may are available in.”
“I must put it out of my thoughts. I do know what you stated earlier than however I’m afraid. You simply don’t know Dad like I do. He’s loopy!”
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Though Cano testified that Erik spoke about his father’s abuse, prosecutors managed to maintain his testimony from being heard on the brothers’ retrial.
Cano died in 2003, however his mom discovered the letter 9 years in the past and it was included in a 2023 petition.
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One other potential sufferer of José’s has additionally come ahead — Roy Rosselló, former member of the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo.
Rosselló claimed he was additionally abused by Erik and Lyle’s father on the age of 14.
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As time has handed, the brothers’ story has been seen in a special mild — with extra supporters contending that the Menendez brothers are, in reality, victims themselves.
A press convention was held final week, the place prolonged members of the family pleaded for the discharge of the convicted brothers.
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Lyle and Erik’s legal professional, Mark Geragos, kicked off the press convention by saying the brothers underwent “phenomenal rehabilitation” throughout their time in jail.
Members of the family then proceeded to take the stand, asking the general public to signal their petition urging the D.A. to schedule a re-sentencing trial.
Amongst them had been Anamaria Baralt, José’s niece; Joan Andersen VandeMolen, Kitty’s sister; Karen VandeMolen, Kitty’s niece; and Brian Andersen Jr., José’s nephew — who fiercely defended the brothers.
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