California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the Menendez brothers will have parole board hearings in mid-June to determine if they should be granted clemency. The brothers, Lyle and Erik Menendez, are currently in prison for killing their parents in 1989. Newsom revealed that each brother will have an individual hearing before the California Board of Parole Hearings on June 13 to plead for clemency from the governor. Despite recent opposition from the Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, the processes for clemency and independent risk assessment will continue as planned.
After the parole board hearings, a report will be submitted to Governor Newsom’s office for consideration regarding whether he should commute the brothers’ sentences. Newsom emphasized that the report generated on June 13 will play a key role in determining whether the clemency application should support a commutation of the case. The brothers, who were convicted of two counts of first-degree murder in the killing of their parents, were sentenced to life in prison. A recent California law made re-sentencing hearings possible, and in addition to the June parole board hearing, the brothers are scheduled for a March re-sentencing hearing after exhausting all legal avenues for freedom.
On Monday, District Attorney Hochman filed an 88-page court filing seeking to rescind the initial order for the re-sentencing hearing for the Menendez brothers. Hochman argued that the brothers have shown little contrition and are unwilling to take responsibility for the killings. Hochman claimed that the brothers had not admitted to lying about their self-defense arguments and suborning perjury during their trials. The brothers’ attorney, Mark Geragos, criticized Hochman for making up his mind before the hearing and not showing concern for the victims, including family members of the Menendez brothers who opposed the re-sentencing.
The Menendez brothers initially claimed that their parents were victims of a mafia hit, but later argued that they acted in self-defense due to a lifetime of physical and sexual abuse by their parents. Their first trial in the early 1990s ended in a mistrial, but they were eventually found guilty in 1996. Governor Newsom, District Attorney Hochman, and attorney Mark Geragos were all approached for comment on the recent developments. Despite the pushback and legal battles, the brothers are set to undergo parole board hearings and potentially have their sentences commuted pending the outcome of the review and assessment processes.
