Prosecutors in Los Angeles are reviewing new proof that would result in the discharge or a brand new trial within the case of two brothers who have been convicted of killing their mother and father of their Beverly Hills mansion.
Lyle Menendez, 56, and his 53-year-old brother Erik are serving life in jail with out parole for the 1989 shotgun murders.
Their father and mom – Jose and Kitty Menendez – have been shot a number of instances at shut vary. Lyle was 21 and Erik was 18 on the time.
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Lyle and Erik Menendez. Pics: Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility
The Los Angeles District Legal professional George Gascon confirmed on Thursday the brothers will get a courtroom listening to in November after his workplace acquired new proof which allegedly corroborates claims Erik Menendez was sexually abused by his father, who was a music govt.
The brothers have stated they killed their mother and father in self-defence after enduring a lifetime of bodily, emotional and sexual abuse from them.
Their legal professionals argue due to society’s altering views on sexual abuse, the brothers could not have been convicted of first-degree homicide and sentenced to life with out parole right this moment.
Prosecutors on the time contended there was no proof of any molestation. They stated the brothers have been after their mother and father’ multimillion-dollar property.
The case has been within the highlight in latest weeks after a Netflix dramatisation of their story – which has drawn accusations of “dishonesty” from Erik Menendez – is at the moment primary within the streamer’s viewing chart.
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(L to R) Nicholas Chavez as Lyle Menendez, Chloë Sevigny as Kitty Menendez, Javier Bardem as Jose Menendez and Cooper Koch as Erik Menendez. Pic: Netflix
He stated: “I totally stand with them, and I support them, and I can only hope that the justice system makes the right decision.”
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Monsters actor requires Menendez retrial
US actuality star Kim Kardashian, who typically advocates for jail reform, has additionally urged prosecutors to rethink the life sentences given to the Menendez brothers.
“As is often the case, this story is much more complex than it appears on the surface. Both brothers said they had been sexually, physically and emotionally abused for years by their parents.
“In keeping with Lyle, the abuse began when he was simply six years previous, and Erik stated he was raped by his father for greater than a decade.
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Kim Kardashian visited the Menendez brothers in jail final month. Pic: Reuters
She stated “despite overwhelming family testimony acknowledging the abuse Erik and Lyle suffered” the brothers had no likelihood of a good trial towards a backdrop of public scepticism.
“Back then, there were limited resources for victims of sexual abuse, particularly for boys,” she stated. “There were virtually no systems in place to support survivors, and public awareness of the trauma of male sexual abuse was minimal, often clouded by preconceived judgments and homophobia.”
“Robbed of their childhoods by their parents, then robbed of any chance of freedom by a criminal justice system eager to punish them without considering the context or understanding the ‘why’, and without caring about whether the punishment fit the crime, Erik and Lyle were condemned before the trial even began,” she stated.
“The killings are not excusable. I want to make that clear,” she stated, and added: “Had this crime been committed and trialled today, I believe the outcome would have been dramatically different.”
