California’s parole board has deemed Lyle Menendez not appropriate for parole, probably leaving each brothers in jail 36 years after executing their rich dad and mom.
The California Board of Parole hearings denied Lyle’s petition for freedom on Friday after a grueling, almost 12-hour listening to wherein his relations insisted he had been reformed whereas prosecutors painted him as a menace to society.
The board’s choice got here the day after they denied parole to Lyle’s brother Erik; will probably be three years earlier than both brother could make one other parole bid.
It was a heartbreaking defeat for attorneys, households and followers of the high-profile criminals, who’ve spent most of two years pushing for Lyle and Erik’s freedom greater than three a long time after they bought shotguns and killed Jose and Kitty Menendez, execution model, in the lounge of their lavish Beverly Hills mansion.
Lyle and Erik Menendez in courtroom throughout their first trial in 1990.
Los Angeles County District Lawyer Nathan Hochman speaks earlier than a listening to within the Menendez brothers case. AP
“Whereas we’re, in fact, dissatisfied by right this moment’s choice as nicely, we aren’t discouraged,” the killer siblings’ household mentioned in an announcement. “The method for parole is exceptionally rigorous, however we’re extremely pleased with how Erik and Lyle confirmed up — with honesty, accountability, and integrity.”
They vowed that the ruling “will not be the top of the highway.”
“Each will go earlier than the Board once more, and their habeas petition stays below evaluation. Within the meantime, we all know they are going to take time to mirror on the Board’s suggestions and can proceed to steer, mentor, and construct packages that help rehabilitation and hope for others,” the household mentioned.
“We all know they’re good males who’ve carried out the work to rehabilitate and are remorseful. We love them unconditionally and can proceed to face by them on the journey forward.”
The brothers claimed they had been appearing in self-defense after years of sexual abuse by their father with their mom’s assist; they feared their dad and mom would homicide them to close them up.
At their parole hearings, prosecutor Habib Balian dismissed that declare and argued that sticking to the lie confirmed the brothers had no “perception” into their very own crimes — a key part of parole eligibility in California.
Perception means taking full accountability for a criminal offense and understanding the components that led you to commit the crime, reminiscent of anger, incapacity to deal with stress, and substance abuse, mentioned Michael Beckman, a lawyer specializing in parole hearings.
The pair had additionally been cited for a number of rule violations whereas in jail. Each brothers had been dinged for possessing contraband cell telephones, and Erik had been cited for fights with different inmates in 1997 and 2011.
“The board is de facto massive on the philosophy that in case you can’t comply with the principles in jail, you’ll be able to’t comply with the principles in free society,” Beckman mentioned. “Add to that that cellphones are one of many three massive unhealthy rule violations together with violence and substance abuse.”
In the end, Beckman famous that parole selections come right down to particular person commissioners, who may weigh the brothers’ circumstances based mostly on components like their celeb standing or relations’ help.
The brothers have had celeb standing since their two high-profile trials within the 90s, however a Netflix documentary concerning the case introduced them again into the highlight final yr.
Former District Lawyer George Gascón filed a proper movement to resentence them, citing new proof of sexual abuse, together with a handwritten word from Erik to a cousin — dated earlier than the murders — that detailed his father’s actions.
When Gascón misplaced his seat to Nathan Hochman final yr, the brand new DA reversed course and did the whole lot in his energy to make sure the brothers keep behind bars.
The brothers are nonetheless pushing for a brand new trial, however after this week’s defeat, direct clemency from Gov. Newsom is their finest shot at freedom.
Newsom has performed his playing cards near the vest: He had ordered the parole board to conduct a threat evaluation, however he selected to let issues play out in courtroom after which the conventional parole course of.
