Erik and Lyle Menendez, convicted of killing their dad and mom in 1989, have been given a brand new likelihood at freedom after greater than three a long time behind bars.
On Tuesday, Los Angeles County Superior Courtroom Decide Michael Jesic diminished their sentences from life with out parole to 50 years to life, making them instantly eligible to use for launch.
The choice got here after years of authorized efforts and emotional pleas from relations who’ve lengthy supported their launch.
Through the resentencing listening to, each brothers addressed the court docket through video, expressing regret for his or her crimes.
“On Aug. 20, 1989, I killed my mother and pop. I make no excuses and in addition no justification,” mentioned Lyle Menendez, holding again tears.
“The impression of my violent actions on my household … is unfathomable.”
Jesic dominated instantly after listening to their statements, shortening what was anticipated to be a two-day listening to.
“I’m not saying they need to be launched; it’s not for me to resolve,” he mentioned.
The Menendez brothers have had their homicide sentences diminished, making them eligible for parole. pic.twitter.com/IiuV7GSEtS
— Pop Base (@PopBase) Might 14, 2025
“I do imagine they’ve achieved sufficient up to now 35 years, that they need to get that likelihood.”
The ruling adopted months of opposition from prosecutors, who argued the brothers had not totally accepted accountability for his or her actions.
Nevertheless, they in the end selected to not current additional witnesses, stating that they had already submitted all related proof.
The protection, in the meantime, offered character witnesses, together with relations, to focus on their rehabilitation.
The decide mentioned he was notably influenced by a letter from a jail official supporting resentencing, one thing the official had by no means achieved earlier than in 25 years.
Erik Menendez additionally addressed his household throughout the listening to.
“You didn’t deserve what I did to you, however you encourage me to do higher,” he mentioned.
The brothers had been convicted in 1996 of murdering their father, Jose Menendez, a music government, and their mom, Kitty, of their Beverly Hills house. They had been 18 and 21 on the time.
Whereas the protection cited years of sexual abuse, prosecutors maintained the killings had been financially motivated.
Their subsequent step is a parole listening to scheduled for June 13, which features a danger evaluation ordered by California Governor Gavin Newsom as a part of a clemency assessment.
