The Menendez Brothers, Erik and Lyle, recently received a new court victory as the judge granted them a new sentence that allows for the possibility of parole. This means that after facing the state parole board, they could potentially be released from prison. The brothers attended a resentencing hearing by video, where the judge changed their sentence to 50 years to life, a stark contrast to the original life without parole sentence they were given.
Family members of the Menendez brothers, many of whom testified in favor of their release from prison, were overjoyed by the news. They hugged each other in court as they celebrated the new sentences for Erik and Lyle. During the hearing, the brothers admitted their crime and even confessed to going back outside to reload their shotguns before returning to kill their mother.
Their attorney, Mark Geragos, who cohosts the “2 Angry Men” podcast, has been advocating for a reduced sentence for the brothers based on their rehabilitation efforts during their more than 3 decades behind bars. However, the recent decision does not bring Erik and Lyle any closer to release as Governor Gavin Newsom had already ordered the state parole board to review their case in February.
Former Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón supported the Menendez brothers’ motion for resentencing, while his successor, D.A. Nathan Hochman, has been against it. Hochman has repeatedly called on the brothers to take responsibility, acknowledge their lies, and apologize for the killings of their parents. The D.A.’s office faced criticism from Menendez family members for showing graphic crime scene photos during a hearing.
The next step for Erik and Lyle is a parole board meeting on June 13. If they are granted parole and Governor Newsom approves it, they could be released. Even if the parole board denies their release, Newsom has the authority to grant them clemency. The fate of the Menendez brothers now lies in the hands of the parole board and the governor.
