said Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon. Menendez murder case is being considered by his office, citing two new factors that prosecutors are looking at ahead of next month’s court hearing.
Gascón said at a news conference Thursday that re-sentencing or a new trial is possible. A public hearing is scheduled for November 26th.
Lyle and Eric Menendez have spent nearly 35 years in prison for shooting and killing their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. Evening at a mansion in Beverly Hills Prosecutors argued that this was a murder motivated by greed. Shortly after their parents’ death, the brothers allegedly poured their money into Rolex watches, cars and real estate investments.
But the Menendez couple testified that they killed their parents in self-defense. The brothers told the jury, in an emotional and highly publicized first trial, about sexual abuse allegations they suffered at the hands of their father during a divided jury.
Because the jury was divided, the judge declared a mistrial.
The brothers were later found guilty of first-degree murder in a second trial in 1995. Prosecutors argued that the brothers, who were 21 and 18 at the time of the killings, were lying about the abuse charges.
On Thursday, Gascón referenced the events of 1988. Letter from Eric Menendez The accusations against her cousin appear to be referring to allegations of abuse by her father and former member of the boy band Menudo, Roy Rosselló, against Jose Menendez, who worked as a record company executive.
Gascón said prosecutors are considering potential new evidence when reconsidering the conviction.
Later Thursday, attorney Mark Geragos said at a separate news conference that the new evidence, including Rosselló’s statements, “provides sufficient basis to set aside the findings of the second trial.”
He described the brothers as “model prisoners” during their more than 30-year sentences.
“I think we’re at a point now where any rational person looking at this case would think they should be excluded,” he said.
The Menendez case has been in the spotlight again in recent weeks following the release of Netflix’s full-fledged crime drama series Monsters: The Story of Lyle and Erik Menendez. A documentary about the incident, “The Menendez Brothers,” will premiere on Netflix on Monday.
Gascon said his office was flooded with calls after the Netflix series was released.
“We are here to tell you that we have a moral and ethical obligation to consider what is presented to us,” Gascón said.
