November 26th 2024.
A decision that was eagerly awaited by the Menendez family was delayed on Monday as a judge pushed back the resentencing hearing for brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez. The two were convicted for the brutal murder of their parents in their lavish Beverly Hills home 35 years ago and have since been serving a life sentence without parole. The family had hoped for the brothers to be released in time for the holidays, but their hopes were dashed as the judge announced that the hearing would now take place on January 30 instead of the previously scheduled date of December 11.
Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic explained that he needed more time to go through the extensive 17 boxes of documents related to the case and also allow the new district attorney of Los Angeles County to weigh in on the matter. The brothers, who are now 53 and 56 years old, were expected to appear in court for the first time in decades, but technical difficulties prevented their virtual appearance from a San Diego prison.
The brothers were found guilty of their parents' murder in 1989, but their defense attorneys argued that they had been sexually abused by their father. However, prosecutors dismissed these claims and instead accused the brothers of killing their parents for financial gain. Despite multiple appeals, the brothers' convictions were upheld for years until they filed a petition for a habeas corpus in May 2023, citing new evidence of their father's sexual abuse. Currently, they are being held at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego.
At the hearing, the judge allowed the brothers' two aunts to testify, after their attorney argued that it would be difficult for them to travel. Joan Andersen VanderMolen, sister of Kitty Menendez, who turns 93 years old on Tuesday, and Teresita Baralt, the older sister of Jose Menendez, who is 85 years old, both pleaded for the brothers' release, citing the years of abuse they had suffered as children. Baralt, who was also a close friend of Kitty, emotionally stated that they missed their loved ones who were gone, but they also missed the brothers who were still in prison.
The hearing was brief, lasting less than an hour, and the brothers' attorney, Mark Geragos, was unable to address the media as he was mobbed by journalists. The recent release of Netflix's "Monsters: Lyle and Erik Menendez Story" and the documentary "The Menendez Brothers" has brought renewed attention to the brothers' case. Some supporters of the brothers, like 28-year-old true crime enthusiast Rose Castillo, were unable to attend the hearing but caught a glimpse of the brothers' family members as they entered the courthouse.
The brothers' fate now rests in the hands of the new Los Angeles district attorney, George Gascón, who has recommended resentencing for the brothers, citing their efforts towards redemption and good behavior in prison. However, not all members of the Menendez family support this decision, with 90-year-old Milton Andersen, brother of Kitty Menendez, filing a legal brief requesting that the brothers' original punishment be upheld. The recent emergence of new evidence, including a letter written by Erik Menendez in 1988 describing the sexual abuse he suffered and former member of Menudo, Roy Rossello, coming forward with allegations of abuse by Jose Menendez, has sparked a debate on whether the brothers' sentence should be reconsidered.
While the possibility of clemency exists, California Governor Gavin Newsom has stated that he will wait for the new district attorney, Nathan Hochman, to review the case before making a decision. Hochman, a Republican-turned-independent, has expressed a desire to carefully examine the evidence before making a decision. The Menendez case continues to garner attention and divide opinions, with supporters and opponents eagerly waiting for the resentencing hearing in January. Stay updated on this and other news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter.
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