Menendez Brothers Resentencing Hearing

Introduction to the Menendez Brothers’ Resentencing Hearing

A resentencing hearing for Lyle and Erik Menendez, part of a process that could eventually lead to the brothers’ release from prison, will proceed Thursday before a judge in Van Nuys.

What to Know

A hearing on resentencing for Erik and Lyle Menendez will move forward Thursday when their attorneys argue before a judge in Los Angeles that the brothers have served enough time in prison for the 1989 shotgun murders of their parents in the family’s Beverly Hills mansion.
The key points to consider include:

• A resentencing hearing for Lyle and Erik Menendez, part of a process that could eventually lead to the brothers’ release from prison, will proceed Thursday before a judge in Van Nuys.
• Attorneys for the brothers, ages 57 and 54, will argue they have served enough of a life prison sentence for the 1989 shotgun murders of their parents at the family’s Beverly Hills mansion.
• LA County prosecutors have opposed resentencing, claiming the brothers killed Jose and Kitty Menendez for a multimillion-dollar inheritance.
• The hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. California time and possibly continue into Friday.

Background of the Case

The long-awaited and re-scheduled hearing at a courthouse in Van Nuys comes after a contentious court proceeding last week at which Los Angeles County prosecutors aggressively argued against resentencing for the brothers, who are serving life sentences without parole after two murder trials three decades ago. The judge decided to move ahead with the resentencing process, despite assertions from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office that the brothers killed Jose and Kitty Menendez for a multimillion-dollar inheritance and have not admitted to lies during their trials nor taken complete responsibility for the crime.

Defense Arguments

Defense attorneys claim the brothers acted in self-defense after years of sexual abuse by their father. Erik, 54, and Lyle, 57, Menendez were ages 18 and 21, respectively, when they were sentenced in a crime that commanded the public’s attention, which was renewed with the release of the Netflix drama "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story" and the documentary "The Menendez Brothers," released in the fall of 2024.

Proceedings and Next Steps

Sixteen tickets will be given out lottery-style for a seat Thursday in the courtroom, where proceedings about the brothers’ suitability for resentencing are scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. California time before Judge Michael Jesic. The road to Thursday’s hearing, which could continue into Friday, began in October when then-Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón asked a judge to change the brothers’ sentence from life without the possibility of parole to 50 years to life. That would make them immediately eligible for parole because they committed the crime when they were younger than 26.

prosecutor’s Arguments

At last week’s hearing, Deputy District Attorney Habib Balian said a key issue with Gascón’s resentencing petition was that it did not fully address rehabilitation and missed key elements of the original crime committed. He argued they were "hunkered down in their bunker of deceit, lies, and deception." Balian said the killings were motivated by greed when the Menendez brothers learned they would be taken out of the will, citing psychiatrist’s notes that he said showed "this was not self-defense."

Conclusion

The hearing is an opportunity for the brothers to demonstrate to a judge that they have lived a life in prison that’s worthy of resentencing as outlined under California law. If the judge agrees, their sentence could be reduced to a penalty less than life without the possibility of parole before their case is considered by a parole board. It was not immediately clear when a decision might be announced.

FAQs

• Q: What is the purpose of the resentencing hearing for the Menendez brothers?
  A: The purpose of the resentencing hearing is to determine whether Lyle and Erik Menendez have served enough time in prison for the 1989 shotgun murders of their parents and should be eligible for parole.
• Q: What are the key arguments for and against resentencing?
  A: The key arguments for resentencing include the brothers’ claims of self-defense after years of sexual abuse by their father, while the arguments against resentencing include the prosecution’s claims that the brothers killed their parents for a multimillion-dollar inheritance and have not taken complete responsibility for the crime.
• Q: What are the possible outcomes of the resentencing hearing?
  A: The possible outcomes of the resentencing hearing include the reduction of the brothers’ sentence to a penalty less than life without the possibility of parole, making them eligible for parole, or the denial of resentencing and the continuation of their current life sentences without parole.
• Q: What are the next steps for the Menendez brothers if the resentencing hearing is unsuccessful?
  A: If the resentencing hearing is unsuccessful, the Menendez brothers still have two paths to freedom: they can submit a clemency plea to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and they can pursue a petition for habeas corpus in court, asking for a new trial in light of new evidence presented.