Judge adjourns hearing on release of Menendez brothers

“I’m not ready to proceed,” Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic said at a hearing. “I want the new administration to review the documents.” Menendez was brother convicted of first degree murder And in 1989 he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after the second of two highly publicized trials for the murder of his parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez.

The case fascinated the United States in the 1990s because of the brothers’ privileges as children of a record label and entertainment industry executive. A recent Netflix series brought new evidence to light and revived public interest in the case. that test Supported her claims that she suffered sexual abuse The outgoing district attorney led the charge for his release for years on behalf of his father.

In Monday’s hearing, Defense attorneys sought to reduce first-degree murder sentence for voluntary manslaughter, which could allow his release. The judge rescheduled the hearing for January 30, but still decided to hear testimony from two of Menendez’s relatives who support the release of the brothers, now 56 and 53. The brothers were supposed to follow the process via videoconferencing from prison, but technical difficulties prevented them from watching it, at least temporarily.

The brothers said they were victims of abuse, while prosecutors argued the couple were after their parents’ multimillion-dollar fortune. Lyle was 21 and Eric was 18 at the time of the murders. Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said that the new evidence, along with a more modern understanding of sexual abuse, A new sentence was requested for the Menendez brothers. Claiming that he has repaid his debt to society.

However, Gascón was defeated in the November 5 election and will step down on December 3. The new district attorney, Nathan Hochman, has not yet commented on the case. Gascón has said that there is no doubt that the brothers killed their parents, but Cited a letter that Eric Menendez allegedly wrote to a cousin eight months before the murders In which he had mentioned misbehavior.

Investigators are also looking into the allegations Member of 1980s pop band MenudoWho said they suffered abuse from Jose Menendez. Those allegations were made public last year in a Peacock documentary series titled “Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed.” If evidence had been presented at trial, The jury could have reached a different conclusionGascon said.