The Menendez brothers’ bid for freedom via resentencing can proceed with the listening to scheduled for Thursday, a decide has dominated.
Lyle, 57, and Erik, 54, acquired life sentences with out the potential for parole after being convicted of murdering their dad and mom, Jose and Kitty Menendez, at their Beverly Hills house in 1989.
Lyle was 21 on the time, Erik was 18.
Final 12 months, Los Angeles district legal professional George Gascon requested a decide to alter the brothers’ sentence from life with out the potential for parole to 50 years to life. That may make them instantly eligible for parole as a result of they dedicated the crime after they had been youthful than 26.
However Mr Gascon’s successor Nathan Hochman submitted a movement final month to withdraw the resentencing request, saying the brothers should totally acknowledge lies they informed concerning the homicide of their dad and mom earlier than he would help their launch from jail.
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Anamaria Baralt, cousin of Erik and Lyle Menendez, hugs legal professional Mark Geragos. Pic: AP
In gentle of Mr Hochman’s opposition, Los Angeles County Superior Court docket decide Michael Jesic dominated on Friday that the courtroom can transfer ahead with the listening to.
“Everything you argued today is absolutely fair game for the resentencing hearing next Thursday,” he mentioned.
From jail, the brothers watched via a video hyperlink and could possibly be seen in courtroom seated subsequent to one another in blue.
Talking after the listening to, the brothers’ lawyer mentioned: “Today is a good day. Justice won over politics.”
Prosecutors accused the brothers of killing their dad and mom for a multimillion-dollar inheritance, though their defence crew argued they acted out of self-defence after years of sexual abuse by their father.
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The brothers had been convicted in 1996 of first-degree homicide. Pic: AP
The brothers have maintained their dad and mom abused them since they had been first charged with the murders.
A Netflix drama collection and subsequent documentary concerning the brothers thrust them again into the highlight final 12 months, and led to renewed calls for his or her launch – together with from some members of their household.
