Menendez Brothers Face Parole Board Hearings as Clemency Decision Looms
The infamous Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik, convicted of the brutal 1989 murders of their parents, are set to face a crucial juncture in their decades-long incarceration. California Governor Gavin Newsom recently announced that the brothers will appear individually before the California Board of Parole Hearings on June 13th, pleading their case for clemency. This announcement comes amidst a renewed legal battle, with Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman attempting to withdraw a previous motion that could have led to their re-sentencing.
Newsom made the announcement on his podcast, "This is Gavin Newsom," emphasizing that despite the District Attorney’s efforts, the clemency review process would continue. He stated that the parole board hearings would proceed as planned, culminating in an independent risk assessment that will be a key factor in his office’s final decision.
"The DA now, the new DA, is pulling back recommending from the Menendez brothers to be re-sentenced," Newsom explained. "But it doesn’t impact the processes underway, that review for clemency in my office or the independent risk assessment that will be concluded on June 13 by the Board of Parole Hearings. And I’ll repeat that, on June 13, both Lyle and Eric Menendez independently will have their final hearing."
The governor elaborated on the process following the hearings. A comprehensive report will be submitted to his office, containing the parole board’s findings and recommendations. This report will be a critical piece of information as Newsom weighs whether to commute the brothers’ life sentences.
"A report then will be submitted to me on the 13th of June for consideration," Newsom said. "We will submit that report to the judge for the re-sentencing, and that will weigh into our independent analysis of whether or not to move forward with the clemency application to support a commutation of this case."
The Menendez brothers were each convicted of two counts of first-degree murder for the killings of their parents, José and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez, in their Beverly Hills mansion. The gruesome crime shocked the nation and ignited a media frenzy that followed the brothers through their trials and eventual imprisonment.
A recent change in California law opened the door for potential re-sentencing hearings, offering a glimmer of hope for the brothers after years of unsuccessful legal challenges. In addition to the upcoming parole board hearings, Lyle and Erik are scheduled for a re-sentencing hearing on March 20th and 21st. These hearings were initially granted by former District Attorney George Gascón.
However, the possibility of re-sentencing has been challenged by the new District Attorney, Nathan Hochman. Hochman filed an 88-page court document requesting that a judge rescind the initial order for the re-sentencing hearing. His argument centers around the brothers’ alleged lack of remorse and their continued refusal to fully accept responsibility for their actions.
According to Hochman, the Menendez brothers have not been forthcoming about the events leading up to the murders. He alleges that they have repeatedly lied about acting in self-defense and even suborned perjury from their friends to support their claims of abuse. Specifically, Hochman pointed to their claims of their father violently raping Lyle’s girlfriend, their mother poisoning the family, and their attempt to acquire a handgun the day before the killings, as examples of these falsehoods.
The District Attorney’s move has drawn sharp criticism from the Menendez brothers’ attorney, Mark Geragos. In a recent interview on "Today," Geragos accused Hochman of having already made up his mind regarding the case and of disregarding the wishes of the brothers’ family members.
"This DA had made up his mind," Geragos stated. "Mind you, there were 22 family members who signed on, met with the DA’s office, told them ‘stop re-traumatizing us.’ We could tell at that meeting that he had no interest in that."
Geragos further accused Hochman of neglecting the needs of the victims’ family members, stating that they were not informed of the decision to attempt to withdraw the re-sentencing motion. He accused Hochman of "serially abusing them with his lies and his litany of lies."
The Menendez brothers’ defense has consistently centered on claims of severe abuse at the hands of their parents. In the immediate aftermath of the killings, they initially claimed that their parents were victims of a mafia hit. However, as evidence mounted against them, they changed their story, alleging that they acted in self-defense after years of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.
Their first trial, which took place from 1993 to 1994, ended in a mistrial due to a hung jury. The brothers were retried in separate trials and ultimately found guilty in 1996. They were subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The upcoming parole board hearings and the ongoing legal battle over re-sentencing represent a critical moment for the Menendez brothers. Governor Newsom’s decision on clemency will hinge on the parole board’s report, his own independent analysis of the case, and potentially the outcome of the re-sentencing hearing. The decision will undoubtedly be a complex one, weighing the severity of the crime, the brothers’ claims of abuse, and the potential for rehabilitation. The eyes of the nation will be on California as the fate of the Menendez brothers is once again considered.
