We have our second update in less than a week on the Menendez brothers‘ ongoing battle to have their life sentences reevaluated. In 1996, Erik and Lyle Menendez were convicted of murdering their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. The siblings were accused of committing this heinous crime as a way to get their parents’ money.
But Erik and Lyle contend they believed the murder was their only way to escape an abusive household.
Late last week, Los Angeles County District Attorney (DA) Nathan Hochman and his office announced they were opposing the brothers’ motions to have their life sentences for the 1989 murders challenged and given new trials.
Newsom Orders Assessment For Menendez Brothers
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced he is ordering an investigation into if the brothers are fit to be released. “The Governor’s primary consideration when evaluating commutation applications is public safety, which includes the applicant’s current risk level, the impact of a commutation on victims and survivors, the applicant’s self-development and conduct since the offense, and if the applicant has made use of available rehabilitative programs, addressed treatment needs, and mitigated risk factors for reoffending,” the governor’s office said in the letter to defense attorney Mark Geragos. “The Governor’s Office will make the findings of the Board’s risk assessment investigation available to the court and the District Attorney.”
“There’s no guarantee of outcome here,” Newsom said on his new podcast, “This is Gavin Newsom.” “My office conducts dozens and dozens of these clemency reviews on a consistent basis. But this process simply provides more transparency, which I think is important in this case, as well as provides us more due diligence before I make any determination for clemency.”
The Menendez brothers are already scheduled to appear in court on March 20th and 21st to determine if they are to be resentenced.
We’ll keep you posted on updates about the Menendez brothers’ case as it develops.
