Menendez Brothers Case: Plea for Release After Decades in Prison
Family and friends of Lyle and Erik Menendez issued a public plea for the notorious killers to be released after serving more than three decades in prison for fatally shooting their wealthy parents in their Beverly Hills home.
The Menendez brothers case became one of the most sensational criminal trials in decades when the two were arrested in the 1989 deaths of Kitty and Jose Menendez.
Family, friends, and an attorney for the brothers gathered on Wednesday in front of a courthouse in Los Angeles to ask for their release, arguing that the boys endured horrific sexual abuse at the hands of their father and are not a threat to society.
However, not every relative wants them released. An attorney for their uncle stated the “cold-blooded” brothers deserve to stay in jail.
The back and forth comes as the Los Angeles district attorney examines new evidence in the case concerning alleged abuse and whether it could warrant a retrial or allow a lighter sentence.
“If they were the Menendez sisters, they would not be in custody,” Anna Maria Baralt, Jose Menendez’s niece, stated at the packed news conference. “We have evolved.”
Baralt referred to the societal treatment of male victims of sexual assault and how perceptions have changed over the past three decades, a sentiment acknowledged even by prosecutors.
The brothers went to trial in 1993 and admitted to shooting their parents with a pair of shotguns but claimed they did so in self-defense after years of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse by their father.
Prosecutors contended that the brothers methodically planned their parents’ murder while they watched TV, intending to inherit their multimillion estate.
After the jury deadlocked, the case went to retrial.
In the second trial in 1995, much evidence regarding the alleged sexual abuse was not allowed to be presented, leading a jury to find both brothers guilty of first-degree murder, resulting in a life sentence without parole.
Interest in the case has resurfaced following a recent Netflix series that depicted the events, alongside new possible evidence, including an alleged letter sent by Erik to a family member detailing the abuse.
On the same day, Kitty Menendez’s sister, Joan Anderson VanderMolen, addressed the media and supporters, stating that her nephews’ actions were “tragic.”
“They were just children” who were “brutalized in the most horrific ways,” she emphasized.
When they stood trial, she argued that “the whole world wasn’t ready to believe that the boys could be raped, or that young men could be victims of sexual violence.” Today, she asserted, “we know better” and that “a jury today would never deliver such a harsh sentence.”
Contrarily, a lawyer for Kitty Menendez’s brother, Milton Andersen, asserted: “The Menendez brothers’ cold-blooded actions shattered their family and left a trail of grief that has persisted for decades.” He highlighted the severity of the murders: “Jose was shot six times, and Kitty was shot ten times, including a shot to her face after Erik reloaded.”
Mr. Andersen believes his nephews should remain in prison for their “heinous act,” according to their attorney, Kathy Cady.
Earlier this month, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón held a news conference announcing his office was re-examining the case for potential resentencing or a retrial. Findings and decisions from his office are expected to be released at a hearing at the end of November.
While prosecutors cannot publicly discuss the case, they emphasized their commitment to a thorough and fair process in ensuring justice is served.
The family is requesting Mr. Gascón to recommend that the brothers be resentenced, which could potentially lead to their release should a judge approve the order.
Discussion
What are your thoughts on the Menendez brothers’ case? Should they be retried or resentenced based on the new evidence presented? Join the conversation in the comments below as we explore the complexities surrounding this controversial case.