Almost two dozen family members of Lyle and Erik Menendez are uniting in Los Angeles on Wednesday to induce the district legal professional to suggest the brothers — who’re at the moment serving life behind bars — be resentenced.
Among the many supporters anticipated to talk at Wednesday’s information convention are the brothers’ aunt, their cousins and actress and comic Rosie O’Donnell, who has visited the siblings in jail.
In August 1989, Lyle Menendez, then 21, and Erik Menendez, then 18, shot and killed their dad and mom, Jose and Kitty Menendez, within the household’s Beverly Hills dwelling.
Lyle Menendez along with his legal professional Jill Lansing in Los Angeles on March 9, 1994.
Ted Soqui/Sygma through Getty Pictures, FILE
Erik Menendez throughout his trial in Los Angeles, March 9, 1994.
Ted Soqui/Sygma through Getty Pictures, FILE
Prosecutors alleged Lyle and Erik Menendez killed their rich dad and mom for monetary acquire, whereas the protection argued the brothers acted in self-defense after enduring years of sexual abuse by their father.
The brothers’ first trials resulted in mistrials. In 1996, on the finish of a second trial — during which the decide barred a lot of the intercourse abuse proof — Lyle and Erik Menendez had been convicted of first-degree homicide and sentenced to 2 consecutive life jail phrases with out the potential of parole.
Erik Menendez and his brother Lyle Menendez in Los Angeles throughout their trial on March 9, 1994.
Ted Soqui/Sygma through Getty Pictures, FILE
Now, the brothers have two tracks to potential freedom.
One monitor depends upon Los Angeles County District Legal professional George Gascón asking for resentencing, based mostly on elements together with rehabilitation.
The opposite monitor is new proof Gascón’s workplace is evaluating: allegations from a member of the boy band Menudo who mentioned he was molested by Jose Menendez, and a letter Erik Menendez wrote to a cousin eight months earlier than the murders detailing his alleged abuse.
An Oct. 31, 2016, photograph supplied by the California Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation exhibits Erik Menendez, left, and a Feb. 22, 2018 photograph supplied by the California Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation exhibits Lyle Menendez.
California Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation through AP, FILE
Erik Menendez’s cousin testified concerning the alleged abuse at trial, however Erik Menendez’s letter — which might have corroborated the cousin’s testimony — wasn’t unearthed till a number of years in the past, in line with the brothers’ legal professional, Mark Geragos.
“Given the totality of the circumstances, I don’t assume that they should be in jail till they die,” Gascón instructed ABC Information.
Gascón mentioned he plans to make his resentencing resolution this month. If Gascón recommends resentencing, his advice will go to a decide to determine whether or not the brothers can be launched, obtain a lesser sentence or get a brand new trial.
