Judge in California rejects plea for retrial by Menendez brothers concerning 1989 killing of their parents
In a recent ruling, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge William C. Ryan has denied a request for a new trial and parole for Erik and Lyle Menendez, who were convicted of the 1989 murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, at their Beverly Hills mansion.
The parole hearings, which marked the closest the brothers have come to winning freedom since their convictions almost 30 years ago, took place after the judge's ruling that denied a new trial based on new evidence supporting claims of sexual abuse.
The brothers' defense attorneys argued that they acted out of self-defense due to years of sexual abuse by their father. However, the judge stated that the new evidence "slightly corroborates" the allegations of sexual abuse, but does not negate the fact that the brothers acted with premeditation and deliberation.
The evidence is not considered compelling enough to produce reasonable doubt in a juror's mind or support an imperfect self-defense instruction. Prosecutors argued that the brothers sought a multimillion-dollar inheritance as the motive for the murders.
Erik Menendez was also denied parole due to his misbehavior in prison. Commissioners cited "anti-social personality traits like deception, minimization, and rule-breaking" in Lyle Menendez.
The judge's ruling came just weeks after the brothers were denied parole. An email was sent to Mark Geragos, a lawyer for the brothers, seeking comment on the judge's ruling. However, the lawyer representing Erik and Lyle Menendez has not been explicitly named in the available search results.
The judge reduced their sentences in May, making them immediately eligible for parole. Despite this, the panel of commissioners has now denied parole for three years for both brothers.
The murders occurred in their Beverly Hills mansion on Aug. 20, 1989. Both brothers, Erik and Lyle Menendez, have served decades in prison for the heinous crime. The case has been a subject of public interest and media scrutiny since the murders.
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