Erik and Lyle Menendez are one step closer to being set free!
During a press conference on Thursday, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced he’s recommending the brothers be resentenced for the killings of their parents in 1989. The siblings were previously sentenced in 1996 to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
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Lyle was 21 and Erik was 18 at the time of the murders, which they claimed was done in self-defense since they feared their parents were about to kill them. They also accused their father Jose Menendez of sexually abusing them for years. Recently, a letter to a cousin was uncovered documenting these abuse claims, which is why the court was reconsidering the case.
The DA explained that the decision was not a “universal agreement,” but “after a very careful review of all the arguments” on both sides, he believed the best thing to do was recommend they be resentenced to life — with the possibility of parole — explaining:
“That means that they will have 50 years to life because there were 2 murders, but because of the age when they were convicted, that means they are eligible for youthful parole [which relates to someone who committed their crime under the age of 26].”
In other words, the DA will recommend that life without the possibility of parole be removed from the case and that the brothers should be resentenced for murder. This means “they will be eligible for parole immediately.” The DA also believes the brothers are safe to return to society because of the way they acted while behind bars, noting:
“They engaged in a different journey. A journey of redemption and a journey of rehabilitation.”
That said, the decision is NOT final. George will be filing his recommendation in court tomorrow, Friday. A judge will have to agree with this decision and a parole board will also have to agree to the DA’s assessment on the men’s release. No hearing date has been set yet.
The siblings’ case was brought back into the spotlight earlier this month when Netflix released a controversial Ryan Murphy-produced TV show, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. They also participated in the documentary, The Menendez Brothers. Thousands have supported their release, including Kim Kardashian. So, this is a big win for them!
[Image via ABC/YouTube & California Department of Corrections]
