Brothers Menendez found ineligible for retrial over parents' homicides, despite increased scrutiny following Netflix documentary
The Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik, have lost their bid for a new trial, as a Los Angeles judge ruled that new evidence presented did not warrant a re-examination of the case. The brothers, who are now 57 and 54 years old, have been in prison for more than three decades for the murder of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, which took place at their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989.
The new evidence includes a letter allegedly written by Erik to his cousin detailing abuse and allegations of sexual abuse by their father. Additionally, allegations of abuse by Jose Menendez against another man are part of the new evidence. However, the judge found that the new evidence did not add to the allegations of abuse that the jury had already considered during the original trial.
The judge also ruled that the new evidence did not demonstrate the brothers experienced a fear of imminent peril, which is a key element in a self-defense claim. It is important to note that the Menendez brothers were found guilty of murder, not self-defense, in the original trial.
The Menendez brothers' plight has been famously dramatized in a recent Netflix series, and they have claimed that the killings were committed after years of abuse, including alleged sexual abuse by their father. Their only other chance of sooner release is if California Governor Gavin Newsom grants them clemency.
Having had their original sentences reduced to 50-year terms in May, they will be eligible to apply for parole again in three years. The brothers were denied parole last month. They can appeal Monday's ruling.
It is worth noting that no judge in Los Angeles decided in September 2021 that Lyle and Erik Menendez would not get a new trial. Their most recent appeal for a new trial was denied by a judge, but the petition was filed in May 2023, and the decision was reported in September 2023.
The allegations of the killings being a cynical attempt to gain access to a large family fortune have been a key part of the case since the beginning. The Menendez brothers have maintained their innocence, and the case continues to generate interest and debate.
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