Brothers convicted of murdering their parents may be released from prison within weeks
Lyle and Erik Menendez shot dead Jose and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez in Beverly Hills, California but a recent Netflix drama has led to the recommendation for resentencing.
Two brothers serving life for murdering both of their parents could be let out of jail within just weeks.
Lyle and Erik Menendez are to be resentenced despite being jailed for shooting dead Jose and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez in their own home. Family members have even jumped to support the siblings, who were convicted in 1996, seven years after the murders.
A recent Netflix drama and documentary film have led to the recommendation for resentencing, which could mean immediate release from prison for the brothers. It could also lessen their sentences or tighten any restrictions.
The appeal was supposed to take place on January 30 and 31 but it has now been delayed until March 20 and 21, due to wildfires continuing to rage across southern California. The murders have hit the headlines in recent months after the release of drama series Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story and documentary film titled The Menendez Brothers, both on streaming service Netflix.
The Menendez brothers, who were interviewed for scenes in the latter, have never disputed that they fired the fatal shots. However, have always claimed their actions were an act of self-defence, rooted in physical and sexual abuse at the hands of their father.
Pictures issued recently show what Lyle Menendez and his brother look like now
Erik Menendez and his brother could be released from jail in March
At the last court hearing, family members of the pair made compassionate pleas advocating for the brothers’ freedom. Joan VanderMolen, sister of Kitty Menendez, told the court that no child should have to endure what the brothers did "at the hands of their father". The 93-year-old woman added: "I love Erik and Lyle and I want them to come home."
Terry Baralt, 85, the oldest sister of Jose Menendez, said: "Thirty-five years is a long time, I think it is time for them to go home." Defence counsel for the Menendez brothers, Mark Geragos and Bryan Freedman, were pictured exiting the courthouse on Friday.
The brothers were convicted and sentenced to life without parole in 1996 and are serving time at the RJ Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego.
It came after an initial mistrial with a hung jury for both brothers, as prosecutors claimed there was no evidence of any abuse and the pair had murdered their parents to inherit the family fortune.
Mr Gascon later supported the brothers’ request for clemency from California governor Gavin Newsom, which said all family members except for Milton Andersen - the brother of Kitty Menendez - supported the petition.
After the drama was released in September, Erik Menendez criticised the series, calling it a "dishonest portrayal" of a time when prosecutors "built a narrative on a belief system that males were not sexually abused".
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