Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced Thursday that his office will review new evidence suggesting Erik and Lyle Menendez were molested by their father before they killed their parents. The case, which captivated the nation, may see a potential resentencing based on this information. More details about the review can be found in the original article, highlighting the new developments in the ongoing investigation.
Source: Los Angeles Times
Newstro Quick Facts
- The Menendez brothers have served over three decades in prison for the murders of their parents, but new claims of molestation could potentially lead to a retrial or lesser sentencing.
- The defense argues that evidence of sexual abuse by their father was improperly withheld during their second trial, despite being presented in the first trial, which ended in hung juries.
- A recent docuseries uncovered new allegations of sexual abuse involving Jose Menendez and a former underage member of the 1980s pop band Menudo, which has sparked renewed attention to the case.
In 1989, Erik and Lyle Menendez shocked the nation when they were arrested for the brutal murders of their parents in their Beverly Hills home. The brothers admitted to the killings, but their defense argued they acted out of fear after years of alleged sexual abuse by their father, Jose Menendez. The first trial ended in a hung jury due to the abuse claims, but in the second trial, this evidence was largely excluded, leading to their life sentences. The case gained notoriety for its blend of wealth, family dysfunction, and violence.
District Attorney George Gascón announced that his office will re-examine the case, specifically looking into the new molestation evidence that has emerged. Gascón emphasized the ethical responsibility to review this information, which could impact the brothers’ sentences. Although Gascón has not yet made a final decision, the case may see significant changes if this new evidence is accepted. The review process might result in a retrial, lesser sentences, or possibly the brothers’ release.
A key component of the new allegations comes from a docuseries that highlighted claims involving Jose Menendez and a member of the 1980s pop band Menudo, alleging that Menendez molested a young band member. This discovery adds further weight to the brothers’ longstanding claims that their father subjected them to years of sexual abuse. Support for the Menendez brothers has grown in recent months, with public figures such as Kim Kardashian advocating for their release, while Netflix’s series “Monsters” has renewed public interest in the case.
Read More at Newstro.com