Family of Menendez brothers plead for their release

After more than three decades in prison, Lyle and Erik Menendez’s family members, acquaintances, and supporters have publicly requested their release. A case that captivated the nation and became one of the most sensational criminal trials of the time was the 1989 murders of their affluent parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills home. The brothers were convicted of the crimes.

On Wednesday, the brothers’ advocates gathered outside a Los Angeles courthouse to argue that Lyle and Erik were victims of horrific sexual and emotional abuse at the hands of their father, which ultimately lead them to commit the fatal shootings. The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office is currently reviewing new evidence in the case, which has prompted concerns regarding the possibility of the Menendez brothers being retried or having their sentences reduced. The confession was entered at this time.

At the press conference, Anna Maria Baralt, Jose Menendez’s niece, mentioned that if they were the Menendez sisters, they would not be in custody. She highlighted the manner in which society and the justice system viewed male victims of sexual assault during the trial, a sentiment that has since been acknowledged by certain prosecutors. 

In 1993, the Menendez brothers were found guilty of murdering their parents with shotguns during their trial. Nevertheless, they contended that the murders were taken in self-defence as a result of the years of abuse they endured at the hands of their father. However, the brothers were accused by the prosecution of meticulously organising the homicides in order to inherit their parents’ multimillion-dollar estate.

The initial trial resulted in a deadlocked jury, which necessitated a retrial in 1995. The second trial resulted in the exclusion of a significant amount of evidence regarding the alleged abuse. Consequently, both brothers were found guilty of first-degree homicide and sentenced to life without parole.

New potential evidence, such as an alleged letter written by Erik Menendez to a family member, has been uncovered as a result of this renewed interest, which includes allegations of sexual assault by his father.

Kitty Menendez’s sister Joan Anderson VanderMolen supported her nephews at Wednesday’s press conference. At 92, she called their conduct “tragic” but said they were “only youngsters” who were “brutalised in the most awful manner.” When the brothers were tried, VanderMolen said that the public and legal system were not ready to accept that young men could be sexually abused. She said “A jury today would never inflict such a draconian penalty.”

However, some family members oppose their release. Milton Andersen, Kitty Menendez’s brother, said the Menendez brothers were cold-blooded and should not be pardoned. His attorney, Kathy Cady, noted that Jose was shot six times and Kitty ten times, including in the face after Erik reloaded his gun. Cady said “The Menendez brothers’ cold-blooded deeds have created a trail of sadness that has endured for decades and broken their family.”

The case is being reviewed by Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón for retrial or resentencing. The outcomes will be revealed during a late November hearing. Gascón’s office has pledged that the inquiry will be unbiased and thorough, despite prosecutors’ silence.

The Menendez brothers’ family and allies expect the district attorney will seek resentencing, which may free them if a court agrees.