October 16th 2024.
It's been 35 years since Erik and Lyle Menendez were put behind bars for the murder of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. But now, their family is making an emotional plea for their release. With tears in their eyes, about 24 family members stood alongside their defense lawyer, Mark Geragos, outside a Los Angeles courthouse, asking for District Attorney George Gascon to set the brothers free.
Geragos boldly stated, "If they were the Menendez sisters, they wouldn't be in custody." The family also introduced their coalition, "Justice for Erik and Lyle", and passionately shared why they are advocating for their release. One of the brothers' cousins, Anamaria Baralt, stated, "Lyle and Erik deserve a chance to heal, and our family deserves a chance to heal with them."
Another family member, Joan Andersen VanderMolen, who is Kitty's sister, advocated for their release as well. She expressed, "Their actions, while tragic, were the desperate response of two boys trying to survive the unspeakable cruelty of their father." She believes that Lyle and Erik were failed by those who should have protected them, including their parents, the system, and society as a whole.
The brothers claimed that the years of abuse they endured at the hands of their father were the reason for their parents' murder in 1989. However, prosecutors argued that their motive was to inherit the family fortune. The first trial ended in a hung jury, but in 1996, both brothers were convicted of first-degree murder and given a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Their case garnered worldwide interest and was recently featured in a Netflix series, "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story", created by Ryan Murphy. The series received backlash but also renewed public interest in the case. During the press conference, a statement was read from Jose's sister, who said, "My prayer is that I live long enough to see my nephews again and to hug them once more."
Kitty's nephew, Brian Andersen Jr., also spoke in support of his cousins. He stated, "I've known Erik and Lyle my whole life, and I can tell you without a doubt that they are not the villains they've been portrayed as." He went on to explain that they were young, scared, and abused by their father in ways that no child should ever experience.
As of now, Gascon has not announced if the case will return to court. His office stated, "A decision regarding the Menendez case has not been made. Once DA Gascon has made a decision, the family members of the victims and the public will be notified." If a re-trial does occur, and the brothers are found guilty of voluntary manslaughter instead of murder, they would be released immediately since they have already served more than the maximum sentence for that crime.
New evidence has surfaced, including a letter allegedly written by Erik to his cousin, that his lawyers believe supports their claims of sexual abuse by their father. The case continues to gain attention, and the family is determined to fight for the freedom of Erik and Lyle. As their story unfolds, it is clear that there is more to the Menendez brothers than what was portrayed in the media.
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