New prosecutor reexamines Menendez brothers' life sentences
After the Netflix series, half the world learned the story of the Menendez brothers, who killed their parents. Although it seems that the case is clear and they rightly serve life sentences, recently, there have been calls for a retrial. What new information is there in the case?
The decision of the new Los Angeles district attorney, Nathan Hochman, sheds new light on the fate of Erik and Lyle Menendez, convicted of murdering their parents in 1989. The brothers' cases will now be considered separately.
The Menendez brothers are not letting themselves be forgotten
Let's recall that Erik and Lyle Menendez are serving life sentences without the possibility of parole for the murder of their parents in 1989. Although they admitted to the murders, they have been model prisoners for almost three decades.
This, along with the publicity of their case through television series and documentary productions, has led to talks about retrials. The Netflix drama series and the released documentary on Peacock have increased interest in their case. As a result, there have been more appeals and petitions for a new hearing.
The previous Los Angeles district attorney, George Gascón, supported the process aimed at releasing the brothers. Many people are wondering if the new prosecutor will approach the case differently. Hochman, from Beverly Hills, won the election by positioning himself as a candidate more stringent on crime, declaring a "reasonably tough approach" to the city's crime problem.
"Starting today, I will get access to confidential prison files that number in the 1000s of pages [and] trial transcripts from two months-long trials," stated Hochman in an interview with TMZ when he first accessed the Menendez brothers' files. "I’ll get a chance now to meet with the prosecutors, law enforcement officers, the defence counsel [and] victim family members, and then we’re going to look at what the different motions are that are currently pending."
The series "Monsters: The Story of Lyle and Erik Menendez" quickly became a hit on Netflix. The creator of this production, Ryan Murphy, is known for stretching stories and emotional scenes and dissecting the psyche of his characters. By including many scenes suggesting mitigating circumstances, including molestation by their father, he sowed a seed of doubt in many people's minds as to whether the life sentence was justified. It is now said that the Menendez brothers could have their sentences reduced to 50 years, which would allow them to apply for parole. The decision depends on the assessment of their behaviour in prison and new evidence.
