Promoted as a “strong demonstration of solidarity,” the press event will see participation from over a dozen family members, including the aunt of Erik and Lyle, who are traveling to Los Angeles for the occasion. This development follows the recent announcement by LA County District Attorney George Gascón, indicating an intention to revisit the Menendez brothers’ case.
At 53 years old, Erik Menendez, along with his elder sibling Lyle, aged 56, is presently incarcerated in state prison and has no possibility of parole. This stems from their conviction for murdering their parents in their Beverly Hills home over three decades ago. During the incident in 1989, Erik, then just 18, and Lyle, at 21, confessed to fatally shooting their father, Jose Menendez, an entertainment executive, and their mother, Kitty Menendez. The brothers have maintained that they acted out of fear, believing their lives were in danger due to their father’s long-term sexual abuse of Erik.
Their family attorney, Bryan Freedman, has expressed unwavering support for the brothers’ release, stating the extended family firmly believes in their cause. Notably, comedian Rosie O’Donnell is also expected to join the family at the news conference. “She wishes for nothing more than their release,” emphasized Freedman, who referenced Kitty Menendez’s sister Joan VanderMolen.
This past month, Gascón acknowledged that the brothers’ involvement in their parents’ murders is not in dispute; however, he has opened the door for a review of new evidence that could lead to a new sentencing decision in this high-profile case that has repeatedly drawn national interest.
The attorneys representing the Menendez brothers argued that the family has always felt that they should have faced manslaughter charges instead of murder. Notably, during the second trial, which ultimately resulted in their conviction, manslaughter was not an option presented to the jury, as highlighted by attorney Mark Geragos.
Interest in the case has surged recently due to Netflix releasing a true-crime series titled “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.” New evidence has emerged, including a letter from Erik Menendez that his legal team claims supports the assertion of his father’s sexual abuse. A court hearing related to this matter is set for November 29.
During the original trials, prosecutors argued that there was no substantiated evidence supporting the claims of abuse, suggesting instead that the brothers were motivated by the desire to inherit their parents’ substantial wealth. However, the Menendez brothers maintain that their actions were in self-defense, triggered by a lifetime of both emotional and physical trauma. Their legal representatives assert that, given the evolving societal attitudes regarding sexual abuse, it’s possible that the brothers would not receive first-degree murder convictions or lifetime sentences today.
Ultimately, it should be noted that jurors in 1996 opted against a death penalty in favor of sentences of life without the possibility of parole.
