A long-awaited resentencing hearing on Tuesday will determine if Erik and Lyle Menendez, who killed their wealthy parents in their Beverly Hills home, could be released from prison after serving three decades. Following months of delays, a judge will hear arguments over two days for and against the brothers’ request for a reduced sentence, which could lead to their release on parole. Prosecutors argue that the brothers carefully planned the 1989 killings to inherit their parents’ fortune and have never taken responsibility for their actions. In contrast, the Menendez brothers maintain that they acted in self-defense after enduring years of abuse.
The case, which has sparked books, documentaries, and dramas, continues to divide the nation.
The two-day hearing, which will not be broadcast, will include evidence, witness testimony, and possibly statements from the brothers themselves, though this could expose them to further questioning by opposing prosecutors.
Their attorney, Mark Geragos, has stated that family members, correctional officers, and behavioral scientists may testify, but he has not confirmed whether the brothers will take the stand.
This hearing is not a re-trial, and the brothers’ guilt will not be revisited. Instead, the focus will be on their actions during their 30 years in prison and whether they have been rehabilitated. During their original trials, prosecutors described them as entitled and eager to claim their parents’ $14 million estate. They argued that the brothers carefully planned the murders, shooting their parents while they were watching TV before going on shopping sprees and attending parties. The brothers later admitted to the killings but claimed they acted out of self-defense due to years of abuse by their father, Jose, a powerful figure in the film and music industry.
Their 1993 trial, one of the first high-profile murder cases televised live, captivated both U.S. and international audiences. After a hung jury in the first trial, the brothers were convicted in a retrial in 1996. Many of their claims of abuse were excluded from the proceedings.
The case has gained renewed attention following a Netflix series, and support for the brothers’ resentencing has come from former Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón. However, current District Attorney Nathan Hochman strongly opposes their release, arguing that they have not shown true accountability and continue to cling to “lies” about the case.
