Menendez brothers face resentencing hearing, could be eligible for parole
Erik and Lyle Menendez, convicted of the 1989 murders of their parents José and Kitty Menendez, may be one step closer to freedom.
(CNN)- Erik and Lyle Menendez, convicted of the 1989 murders of their parents José and Kitty Menendez, may be one step closer to freedom as a resentencing hearing begins this afternoon in Los Angeles. The brothers are currently serving life sentences without the possibility of parole. However, former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani says that could change soon.
“There’s a very real possibility that Erik and Lyle Menendez are before the parole board in a matter of months,” Rahmani said. “If they get sentenced to something like 50 to life, which is what George Gascón recommended, the brothers would be immediately eligible for parole because they’re youthful offenders. Under California law, you serve half your sentence — for 25 years, you’re up for parole.”
Former Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón was moved to reexamine the case after watching a Netflix documentary that shed new light on the brothers’ claims of childhood abuse. That review led him to file a motion supporting resentencing. Current District Attorney Nathan Hochman, however, disagrees with the motion, arguing that the Menendez brothers haven’t fully accepted responsibility for their parents’ deaths.
“They do not meet the standards for resentencing,” Hochman stated. “They do not meet the standards for rehabilitation.” Despite his objections, a judge has denied his request to withdraw the motion.
Family members continue to advocate for the brothers’ release, maintaining that the murders were the result of years of alleged abuse.
“It’s about giving people the chance to show who they are now, not just who they were in their worst moment,” said Anamaria Baralt, a cousin of the Menendez brothers. The court’s decision could determine whether the Menendez brothers will soon have a chance at parole — and freedom — after more than three decades behind bars.
