Lyle and Erik Menendez had asked Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman for a new trial, but he has denied based on new evidence that points to them being molested by their father. The Menendez Brothers’ family has deeply been disappointed by this decision which they argue is inappropriate because of the long-lasting effects of trauma. But California Governor Gavin Newsom orders a state parole board assessment, providing a possible path to freedom for the Menendez Brothers.

It is a case that has become a recent source of public interest, thanks in part to the 2024 Netflix series ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.’

The Shocking 1989 Murders: A Recap of the Tragic Events

On August 20th of 1989 the young Menendez sons committed the murders of their parents José Menendez and Kitty inside their Beverly Hills home. Lyle and Erik first said they found their parents dead at home before dialing 911 in what proved to be an inappropriate calm manner. The worth of the Menendez Brothers’ inheritance became questionable to the public following their parents’ murder after they used their substantial inheritance to purchase luxurious properties and high-end possessions.

During this phase of the case public attention became more focused because Erik revealed the truth about his murders to his therapist who then informed the police about it. The news media extensively covered this sensational courtroom trial because the Menendez Brothers made their defense argument based on parental abuse which caused widespread public recognition along with substantial public interest.

Claims of Abuse and the Brothers’ Defense Strategy

During their 1993 trial Erik and Lyle Menendez stated their father José Menendez and mother became victims of their fatal attacks because of multiple years of household physical and sexual abuse. The prosecutors rejected that the Menendez Brothers endured abuse so Erik participated in testimony about their alleged mistreatment. The initial judicial proceeding failed because jurors kept an impasse about reaching agreement on a verdict. In 1995 the court sentenced the Menendez Brothers to life imprisonment for first-degree murder when the judge controlled which abuse evidence could be introduced in court. Public and media observers expressed divided reactions which demonstrated their sympathy toward the Menendez Brothers’ claims as they viewed the defense through varying perspectives about accountability.

What Has Changed After All These Years?

Both significant pieces of evidence have been brought in to demonstrate to Lyle and Erik Menendez that they deserve a new trial. A letter from Erik to his cousin, Andy Cano, in December 1988, in which Erik alludes to his having endured sexual abuse by his father, José Menendez, is the first. Second, allegations by ex-Menudo boy band member Roy Rosselló who claims José Menendez sexually assaulted him in the 1980s.

The revelations are intended to bolster the original Menendez Brothers’ defense that lasted 15 years of abuse that eventually led to the 1989 murders. This evidence, if deemed credible, could help in their claim of self-defense and might later decide a retrial or resentencing for them.

District Attorney Nathan Hochman’s Decision

Evidence which claims that father José Menendez sexually abused his sons Lyle and Erik has sparked doubts from Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, who maintains opposition to granting them a retrial.

The approach of former DA George Gascón demonstrated a different approach when he made his request to the court for the Menendez Brothers’ resentencing during October 2019. Even though DA Gascón won support for his strategy of dealing with the Menendez Brothers’ extended detention and parole possibilities, DA Hochman disagreed with this fresh evidence being accepted.

How Society’s View on the Menendez Case Has Evolved

Public opinion about the Menendez Brothers has changed dramatically over the last three decades. But in the 1990s, media coverage made them first seem like cold-blooded killers and was met with widespread condemnation.

Despite that, however, recent depictions, like the 2024 Netflix story ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,’ have recast their claims of continued severe abuse and shown sympathy towards people helping to reconsider their sentences. It is the story of the evolution of media and the widespread effect it has in stabilizing or transforming public opinion over a period of time.

Experts Weigh In on the Possibility of a New Trial

Legal analysts were skeptical of the new evidence presented with the Menendez Brothers, including the 1988 letter from Erik Menendez and an operative from a former boy band member, claiming their credibility and the effect it would have on the case. The Menendez Brothers’ legal avenues now include requesting resentencing, as former DA George Gascón had previously recommended, or seeking clemency from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who ordered a state parole board risk assessment of them in order to be evaluated for potential release.

Frustrating his family, Los Angeles DA Nathan Hochman had refused to grant the Menendez Brothers a new trial. Officials are not yet convinced new evidence supports their claims of abuse. Governor Gavin Newsom joined the debate, ordering a parole board review.