The district attorney of Los Angeles County says he does not support the resentencing of Lyle and Erik Menendez, arguing that the brothers have repeatedly lied about why they killed their parents at their Beverly Hills home in 1989.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman provided an update on the notorious murder case on Monday, addressing one of three “parallel tracks” that could result in the brothers’ release from prison, where they are serving life terms.
Gov. Gavin Newsom recently directed the California Board of Parole Hearings to evaluate whether Lyle and Erik, who are now 57 and 54, respectively, pose a risk to public safety if they were to be released from prison. The DA’s Office has already informally requested that the courts deny the habeas petition. Resentencing is their third avenue to freedom.
Hochman previously stated that he opposes a new trial for the brothers, who are serving life sentences for the murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty, at their Beverly Hills home in 1989. The brothers were 21 and 18 at the time of the killings.
At Monday’s press conference, however, Hochman indicated he was in favor of granting the brothers a resentencing hearing — only after his predecessor’s motion was withdrawn.
In October, then-District Attorney George Gascón recommended the brothers be resentenced to 50 years to life, which would make them immediately eligible for parole.
“The basis for that request is that the prior motion did not examine or consider whether the Menendez brothers have exhibited full insight and taken complete responsibility for their crimes by continuing for the past 30 years to lie about their claims of self-defense,” Hochman continued.
Hochman noted that Jose Menendez suffered a shotgun blast to the back of his head while Kitty Menendez was shot in the face at point-blank range. Both were shot in the kneecaps in what was staged to look like “a mafia killing,” he said.
The DA stated that he believes the brothers’ “current and continual failure to show full insight and accept full responsibility for their murders” is what is preventing them from having the chance at freedom.
“They have lied to everyone for the last 30 years,” Hochman said. “If they were to finally come forward and unequivocally and sincerely admit and completely accept responsibility for their lies of self-defense and the attempted suborning of perjury they engaged in, then the court should weigh such new insight into the analysis of rehabilitation and resentencing, as will the people.”
Family members of Erik and Lyle Menendez slammed Hochman’s assertion that the brothers do not meet the standards for resentencing.
“Let’s be clear: Erik and Lyle are not the same young boys they were more than 30 years ago,” the Justice for Erik and Lyle Coalition said in a statement Monday. “They have apologized for the horrific actions they took. They have apologized to us. And, they have demonstrated their atonement through actions that have helped improve countless lives. Yet, DA Hochman is effectively asking for them to publicly apologize to a checklist of actions they took in a state of shock and fear.”
The brothers’ resentencing hearing is scheduled for March 20 and 21.
More information about the DA’s announcement can be found here.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
