Denial of retrial request for the Menendez brothers as judge deems presented evidence not overly compelling

Evidence provided by the Menendez brothers was deemed insufficient by the judge to merit a retrial.

, and ASMedia

2025 September 17 . 10:16 PM

2 min read

Retrial denial for Menendez brothers as judge deems newly presented evidence not notably robust

Denial of retrial request for the Menendez brothers as judge deems presented evidence not overly compelling

In a recent development, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge William Ryan has denied the writ of habeas corpus filed by Erik and Lyle Menendez in May 2023. This decision comes after the brothers' initial conviction that put them away for life remains unchanged.

The Menendez brothers, who were resentenced in May 2024 to 50 years to life in prison, have maintained the stance that they killed their parents in self-defense after alleging physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. However, Judge Ryan wrote in his ruling that the evidence was not so compelling that it would have produced a reasonable doubt in the mind of at least one juror or supportive of an imperfect self-defense instruction.

The jury rejected the self-defense defense in finding the brothers guilty of the murders of their parents. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, an outspoken opponent of the Menendez brothers' release and petition for a retrial, applauded the judge's decision on the habeas corpus petition, calling it meritless. Hochman emphasized that the central defense of the Menendez brothers at trial has always been self-defense, not sexual abuse.

The petition claimed that two new pieces of evidence proved the brothers' father, Jose Menendez, was sexually abusive. One of these pieces was a letter from 1988 that Erik Menendez sent to his cousin Andy Cano detailing the allegations. The other piece was a declaration from Roy Rossello, who was their father's former boy bandmate, that claimed he was raped by Jose Menendez. However, neither of these pieces was 'particularly strong' and did not add to the 'allegations of abuse that the jury already considered.' Hochman stated that the petition 'does not come close to meeting the factual or legal standard to warrant a new trial.'

The appellate attorneys of the Menendez brothers are currently represented by attorney Leslie Abramson. Despite reaching out to Mark Geragos, the brothers' appellate attorney, for a comment, a response is yet to be received.

This latest ruling marks another setback for the Menendez brothers in their quest for freedom. They are still waiting for a decision on their clemency petitions sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom. In August 2024, the state parole board denied parole for both Menendez brothers.

Chelsea Hylton, a web producer for the news outlet, covering local breaking news across the Southern California region, has been following the Menendez brothers' case closely. She joined the outlet in 2024.