A judge will decide on Friday if processing with resentment hearings for Erik and Lyle Méndez, who were convicted of murdering their parents, in the light of the new Los Angeles district prosecutor who opposes their release after Barsind bars.
The brothers were sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of probation at 18 and 21 years after being convicted of murdering their parents, José and Kitty Menéndez, at his home in Beverly Hills in 1989.
While the defense argued that they acted by self -defense after years of sexual abuse by their father, prosecutors said the brothers killed their parents for a multimillion -dollar heritage.
The prior progressive district prosecutor of Los Angeles County, George Gascón, sought a ressence for the brothers before losing re -election before the hard candidate in the crime Nathan Hochman in November.
Gascón had asked a judge to change the sentence of the brothers at 50 years of life, which would make the issue immediately eligible for liberation under the California law because when they were under 26 years.
But last month, Hochman presented a motion to withdraw that request, saying that he did not support the resentment of the brothers because they had not admitted lies they told as the case developed about why they killed their knowledge and Dedeps and did, and they did, y ,, and, and, for the responsibility “for their crime.
On Friday, the Court will decide whether to allow prosecutors to withdraw their resentment motion.
If this application is granted, the judge will also decide White to process independently with the resentment hearings of the brothers, who are tentatively scheduled for April 17 and 18.
The opposition of the District Prosecutor raises a great obstacle to the brothers, whose path to review was almost certain with the support of Gascón.
The family’s relationship with Hochman has also been grated. The majority of the extended family of the brothers supports their resentment.
Milton Andersen, Kitty Menéndez’s brother and the only relative who opposed his release, died last month.
Tamara Goodall, a brothers cousin, filed a complaint to the State asking that Hochman was withdrawn from the case, citing her brothers and Alleghe who violated a law meant the rights of the victims.
Hochman had a “hostile, derogatory and condescending tone” at meetings with the family and created an “intimidating and intimidating atmosphere,” Goodall.
In his response to the motion of the District Prosecutor to withdraw the request for resentment, the lawyers of the Menéndez brothers questioned whether Whetman had legitimate reasons to do so or was influenced by “a change of political winds.”
Read more about the case of Mendez Brothers
The lawyers pointed out that Hochman degraded Nancy Theberge and Brock Linsford, the two deputy district prosecutors who presented the original Resennencing motion.
Since then, Theberge and Linsford have filed demands against Hochman claiming harassment, discrimination and reprisals for their work in the case of the Méndez brothers.
“The law requires justice, does not sell personal,” said Anamaria Baralt, cousin of the brothers, in a statement. “Erik and Lyle have not only assumed responsibility, but have become the type or men that this system is supposed to create. If rehabilitation does not matter here, when?”
Hochman’s office denied any political influence on their decision making and doubled in the position that Erik and Lyle Menéndez “manufactured their self -defense claim” in their parents’ murders and had not reached complete rehabilitation.
Without resentment, the brothers would still have two other paths towards freedom.
They have presented a supplication of clemency to the California government. Gavin Newsom, who ordered the State Probation Board to investigate whether the brothers would represent a risk to the public if they are released.
The probation Board is scheduled to hold its final hearings on June 13.
The brothers also presented a request for habeas corpus in May 2023 asking the court to give them a new trial to the light of new evidence presented. Hochman’s office also presented a motion that opposed the petition.