(AP) – Prosecutors in Los Angeles are reviewing new evidence in the case of Erik and Lyle Menendez to determine whether they should be serving life sentences for the premeditated murder of their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion more than 35 years ago, the Los Angeles district attorney said. the city this Thursday.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said during a news conference that attorneys for Erik Menendez, 53, and his brother Lyle Menendez, 56, have asked a court to overturn their conviction.
Gascón said there is no doubt the brothers committed the homicides, but that his office will review the new evidence and make a decision on whether it warrants a new sentence. A hearing was scheduled for Nov. 29.
“We have not decided on an outcome. “We are reviewing the information,” Gascón said.
New evidence presented in a petition includes a letter written by Erik Menendez that his attorneys say corroborates allegations that he was sexually abused by his father. Gascón said he believes the issue of sexual assault would have been treated more sensitively if the case had occurred today.
Gascón stated that his office did not know the “validity” of what was presented in the trial.
“We will evaluate everything,” said Gascón, who is seeking re-election, noting that more than 300 people have been resentenced during his term, and only four have committed a crime again.
Cliff Gardner, an attorney for the brothers, said they are pleased with the district attorney’s decision.
“Given today’s very different understanding of how sexual and physical abuse impacts children, both boys and girls, and the remarkable new evidence, we believe resentencing is the appropriate outcome,” Gardner said in an email this week. Thursday to The Associated Press. “The brothers have served more than 30 years in prison. “That’s enough.”
The case has gained new attention in recent weeks after Netflix released the true crime drama “Monsters: The Story of Lyle and Erik Menendez.”
In a statement on men were not sexually abused and that men experience the trauma of rape differently than women.”
The brothers received life sentences for fatally shooting their parents, José and Kitty Menéndez, in 1989.
Lyle, then 21, and Erik, who was 18, admitted they fatally shot their father, an entertainment executive, and their mother. However, they said they feared their parents were about to kill them to prevent disclosure of the father’s prolonged sexual abuse of Erik.
Prosecutors argued there was no evidence of any abuse. They said the children were seeking their parents’ multimillion-dollar inheritance.
Jurors rejected a death sentence in favor of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
