Los Angeles, United States

New evidence has come to light that has led to the reopening of the Menendez brothers’ case. Family and friends of Lyle and Erik Menendez pleaded for the brothers to be released after spending over three decades in prison for murdering their parents, Kitty and Jose Menendez, in 1989.

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Los Angeles district attorney is analysing the new evidence, a letter from Erik Menendez to his cousin eight months prior to the day the brothers fatally shot their parents. 

Their family, friends, and attorney asked for their release in the Los Angeles courthouse on Wednesday, October 16. They argued that the boys were subjected to horrific sexual abuse by their father and are no longer a danger to society. Anna Maria Baralt, Jose Menendez’s niece talked about how the society and justice system treats male victims of sexual abuse.

“If they were the Menendez sisters, they would not be in custody,” Baralt said at a news conference. “We have evolved.”

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However, some other relatives and prosecutors have claimed that the murder was planned by the brothers to inherit their wealthy parents’ multimillion-dollar estate.

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“The Menendez brothers’ cold-blooded actions shattered their family and left a trail of grief that has persisted for decades. Jose was shot six times, and Kitty was shot ten times, including a shot to her face after Erik reloaded," said Kathy Cady, a lawyer for Kitty Menendez’s brother, Milton Andersen. She added that Andersen believes the brothers should stay behind bars for the "heinous act" they committed.

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What is the Menendez brothers’ case?

The Menendez brothers went to trial in 1993 for shooting their parents with a pair of shotguns. They admitted that they shot them in self-defence after suffering emotional, physical, and sexual abuse by their father for years.

The case went to retrial after the jury could not come to a judgment. In the second trial that happened in 1995, the evidence about alleged sexual abuse was not permitted to be presented in court. The brothers were found guilty of first-degree murder and were sentenced to life in prison without parole.

The case has gained more popularity after a Netflix series was released in September. The new evidence has also come to light, a letter by Erik that describes the sexual abuse they endured by their father.

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“They were just children” who were “brutalised in the most horrific ways," said Joan Anderson VanderMolen, Kitty Menendez's sister. “The whole world wasn’t ready to believe that the boys could be raped, or that young men could be victims of sexual violence".

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón recently announced in a press conference that the case is being re-examined. Two scenarios are possible: the brothers could be resentenced or given a retrial. The hearing where the decision will be announced will be held at the end of November.

"Please know that our office is dedicated to a thorough and fair process and is exploring every avenue available to our office to ensure justice is served," Gascón's office said in a statement on Wednesday.

The family is recommending the brothers be resentenced, which may set them free from prison.

(With inputs from agencies)