In the wake of the recent announcement recommending the resentencing of Lyle Menéndez and Erik Menéndez, the Beverly Hills Police Department has issued a formal statement addressing the high-profile case that rocked the nation more than three decades ago.
While the department did not directly comment on the details of the Menéndez brothers‘ resentencing decision, it reaffirmed its commitment to justice and acknowledged the public’s renewed interest in the case.
The Menéndez Brothers’ First Trial Resulted In A Deadlock, Resulting In A Second Trial
The case, which dates back to August 20, 1989, unfolded when Lyle and Erik Menéndez shot and killed their parents, Jose and Kitty Menéndez, in their Beverly Hills residence. At the time, Lyle was 21 and Erik was 18; they used shotguns purchased just days before the crime.
Prosecutors claimed the brothers murdered their affluent parents for financial gain, while the defense argued they acted in self-defense after suffering years of sexual abuse by their father.
During the first trial in 1994, the juries were unable to reach a unanimous decision after hearing Lyle and Erik’s testimony. The brothers asserted that they acted in self-defense, claiming they feared their parents would kill them to keep the alleged abuse they had endured a secret.
The deadlock resulted in a mistrial, leading to a second trial, where the brothers were ultimately convicted.
District Attorney George Gascón Has Proposed Resentencing The Menéndez Brothers
More than three decades after Lyle and Erik Menéndez were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murders of their parents, the brothers may now have a chance at release.
On Friday, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón is expected to recommend that a judge resentence the siblings—a decision reached following a review prompted by defense attorneys’ presentation of new evidence in 2023, which they claim substantiates allegations of abuse by the brothers’ father.
“I will never excuse murder, and those were brutal, premeditated murders,” Gascón told CNN Thursday. “They were appropriately sentenced at the time when they were tried. They got life without the possibility of parole. I just think that given the current state of the law and given our assessment of their behavior in prison, they deserve the opportunity to be re-evaluated and perhaps reintegrated into the community.”
Beverly Hills Police Department Releases Statement
The Beverly Hills Police Department, which led the investigation into the 1989 murders, released a statement that neither endorsed nor opposed the district attorney’s recommendation.
“Today’s decision to recommend resentencing was made entirely by the Los Angeles County District Attorney. BHPD was not consulted or contacted by the District Attorney’s Office regarding this decision. As the investigating agency for the case, the BHPD presented relevant facts and evidence to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, which resulted in the filing of criminal charges at that time.”
The statement clarified that the agency was not involved in the decision-making process.
What Led To The DA’s Decision?
Gascón acknowledged that while he believes the original sentencing of Lyle and Erik Menéndez over three decades ago was appropriate, the brothers now deserve a re-evaluation.
In an interview with CNN’s Stephanie Elam, he expressed his belief that the brothers had been sexually abused before the murders and that they have served enough time in prison.
He explained that he reached his decision just an hour before making the public announcement, citing differing opinions within his office. He noted that multiple factors influenced the recommendation for resentencing, including statements from several family members who asserted not only that sexual abuse had likely occurred but also described the Menéndez household as deeply dysfunctional for many years.
What’s Next For The Menéndez Brothers?
A hearing on the case is expected to take place within the next 30 to 45 days, during which a Los Angeles Superior Court judge will decide whether to resentence the Menéndez brothers.
Gascón has expressed his support for resentencing the brothers to life with the possibility of parole, a sentence that would typically mean 50 years to life. However, since the brothers were both under 26 at the time of the crimes, they qualify for youthful parole eligibility under California law.
The reexamination of the case takes place more than 35 years after the 1989 fatal shootings of Jose and Kitty Menéndez in their Beverly Hills mansion. Their sons, who were 21 and 18 at the time, were arrested in 1990, less than a year after the killings, and were ultimately convicted of first-degree murder in 1996.
Several factors contributed to the recommendation for resentencing, but it remains uncertain whether the brothers—now in their 50s—will ultimately be released from prison.
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