Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced on Monday that his office will no longer pursue a reduction in the sentences of notorious brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez. The brothers, who were convicted of the brutal 1989 murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, are currently serving life without parole.
Hochman stated at a press conference that the Menendez brothers have not shown full insight into their crimes, particularly in regards to their claim of self-defense, which he deemed as fabricated. This lack of acknowledgment and responsibility led to the decision to withdraw the request for reduced sentences.
Last October, former District Attorney George Gascón had advocated for reducing the brothers’ sentences to 50 years to life, making them eligible for parole immediately. Gascón believed that the brothers had been rehabilitated during their 35 years in prison. The Menendez family has contended that new evidence supports the brothers’ claims of being sexually abused by their father, emphasizing the evolving attitudes towards abuse over the past three decades.
Despite the withdrawal of the sentence reduction request, a hearing on the resentencing request was previously scheduled for March 20-21 and could still proceed at the judge’s discretion.
Hochman’s victory over Gascón in the election last November was fueled in part by criticisms of Gascón’s handling of the Menendez case, accusing him of using it as a distraction from his shortcomings in office.
The Menendez brothers’ attorneys have also sought clemency from Governor Gavin Newsom. In a recent announcement on his personal podcast, Newsom revealed that he had asked the state parole board to conduct a risk assessment to aid in his decision on whether to grant clemency.
Furthermore, Hochman has opposed a new trial for the brothers, dismissing their claims of uncovering new evidence of sexual abuse as part of a pattern of deceit and lies.
The Menendez case, which garnered significant public attention in the mid-1990s, has been the focus of numerous true crime documentaries. The recent success of the Ryan Murphy series “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” on Netflix prompted Gascón to reexamine the case.
