Murder case that inspired Netlix’s ‘Monsters’ series gets a new twist

Erik and Lyle Menendez’s case gained traction recently after Netflix began streaming ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’. The brothers are currently lodged in prison for killing their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion more than 35 years ago. But here a new twist in thier case.
Reports emerged on Wednesday claiming that the family of Erik and Lyle Menendez will advocate for the brothers’ release from prison during a news conference in downtown Los Angeles.
According to the Associated Press, the news conference will take place less than two weeks after LA County District Attorney George Gascón announced his office was looking at the brothers’ case again.
The prosecutors are reportedly reviewing new evidence to determine whether the pair, who were the subject of a new Netflix show, should be serving life sentences.
The new evidence includes a letter written by Erik Menendez that his attorneys say corroborates the allegations that he was sexually abused by his father. A hearing was scheduled for November 29.
Erik Menendez, now 53, and his 56-year-old brother, Lyle Menendez, are currently incarcerated in state prison without the possibility of parole after being convicted of killing their parents more than 35 years ago.
Lyle Menendez, who was then 21, and Erik Menendez, then 18, admitted they fatally shot-gunned their entertainment executive father, Jose Menendez, and their mother, Kitty Menendez, in 1989.
They, however, said they feared their parents were about to kill them to prevent the disclosure of the father’s long-term sexual molestation of Erik.
Prosecutors earlier contended there was no evidence of any molestation. They said the sons were after their parents’ multimillion-dollar estate.
But the brothers said they killed their parents out of self-defense after enduring a lifetime of physical, emotional and sexual abuse from them. Their attorneys argue that because of society’s changing views on sexual abuse, that the brothers may not have been convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole today.
Jurors in 1996 rejected a death sentence in favor of life without parole.
The extended family’s attorney Bryan Freedman previously said they strongly support the brothers’ release. Comedian Rosie O’Donnell also plans to join the family on Wednesday.
“She wishes nothing more than for them to be released,” Freedman said earlier this month of Joan VanderMolen, Kitty Menendez’s sister and the brothers’ aunt.
The brothers’ attorneys said the family believed from the beginning they should have been charged with manslaughter rather than murder. Manslaughter was not an option for the jury during the second trial that ultimately led to the brothers’ murder conviction, attorney Mark Geragos previously said.
(With inputs from Associated Press)