Menendez Case Returns to Court After 30 Years \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Resentencing hearings for Erik and Lyle Menendez are scheduled for May 13 and 14, decades after their convictions for killing their parents. Defense attorneys argue for parole eligibility, citing rehabilitation, education, and family support. Prosecutors oppose the move, citing behavioral concerns and lack of accountability.
Quick Looks
- Erik and Lyle Menendez, sentenced to life without parole in 1996, are set for resentencing hearings on May 13–14.
- The brothers were convicted of murdering their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in 1989 at ages 18 and 21.
- Defense attorneys claim long-term rehabilitation and cite years of self-improvement and inmate mentorship.
- A majority of the Menendez family supports release, including cousins who will testify next week.
- Judge Michael Jesic denied prosecutors’ attempt to block the hearings and rejected claims of new behavioral concerns.
- LA District Attorney Nathan Hochman now opposes resentencing, reversing a 2023 petition under former DA George Gascón.
- Hochman cited a forensic report alleging cell phone possession and a “moderate” future violence risk.
- The defense calls the report misleading and argues it’s not grounds to deny resentencing.
- Clemency remains a possibility, with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office ordering a final parole board assessment.
- A decision at the June 13 parole hearing could lead to the brothers’ release or clemency after more than 30 years in prison.
Deep Look
The infamous case of Erik and Lyle Menendez, who shocked the nation in the early 1990s with the brutal murder of their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion, is now poised for a major judicial development. After nearly three decades behind bars, the brothers will face resentencing hearings next week that could determine whether they’ll be eligible for parole — or even freedom.
Scheduled for May 13 and 14, the hearings will take place in Los Angeles County Superior Court, where Judge Michael Jesic will weigh whether the brothers’ reported rehabilitation merits a reduction in their life-without-parole sentences. Their convictions in 1996 came after two highly publicized trials, with defense attorneys arguing that the killings were acts of desperation after enduring years of sexual and psychological abuse by their father, Jose Menendez — a claim prosecutors dismissed as a ploy to gain access to the family’s multimillion-dollar estate.
A New Legal Landscape
The hearings come amid evolving public and legal perspectives on childhood trauma, abuse, and rehabilitation. In 2023, former LA County District Attorney George Gascón petitioned for the brothers’ resentencing, stating the case would have been handled differently today, with more attention to psychological trauma and abuse dynamics.
However, Gascón’s successor, Nathan Hochman, has taken the opposite stance. On Friday, Hochman urged the court to withdraw the petition, arguing that the brothers have not accepted full responsibility for their actions and continue to maintain parts of the narrative that prosecutors consider false.
“They’re not ready,” Hochman told the court, pointing to a risk assessment conducted by a forensic psychologist. The report, not publicly released in full, claims the brothers had recently violated prison rules by possessing contraband cell phones and suggests they may be “moderately more likely” to engage in violent behavior if released.
Judge Jesic, however, pushed back on the argument, noting that Erik Menendez’s history of contraband is well-documented and not new information. “I don’t see anything new,” he said.
Rehabilitation and Family Support
According to their legal team, the Menendez brothers have undergone profound transformation during their decades in prison. They’ve earned degrees, led self-help programs, and established support groups for fellow inmates. Their efforts, says defense attorney Mark Geragos, reflect sincere growth.
“The question is not about the past,” Geragos said, “but whether they are a danger today — and they are not.”
Seven family members are expected to testify in support of the brothers, who have reportedly maintained close relationships with their extended family. All surviving members, aside from one late uncle, have voiced their forgiveness and support for their release.
The defense had previously filed a motion to remove the DA’s office from the case, citing bias from Hochman, but withdrew it before Friday’s hearing. Hochman denies any misconduct and insists his position is based solely on evidence and law.
Clemency and the Role of the Governor
While the resentencing hearings could make the brothers eligible for parole, their ultimate release lies in the hands of the California State Parole Board and potentially Gov. Gavin Newsom, who ordered a separate risk assessment.
That assessment will culminate in a final hearing on June 13, which will guide the governor’s decision on clemency — a rare but possible outcome in cases of long-term incarceration and alleged rehabilitation.
Defense attorney Geragos downplayed the importance of partial findings in the psychological reports revealed in court Friday, emphasizing that these were only one part of a much broader evaluation process — and not final conclusions.
“This is not about viral clips or public sentiment,” Geragos said. “It’s about justice, context, and recognizing that people can change.”
If resentenced, the brothers could be immediately eligible for parole — an astonishing possibility in a case that once defined tabloid culture and courtroom drama. As the hearings resume next week, the nation will again turn its eyes to the Menendez brothers — not in scandal, but in reconsideration.
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