CNN
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The Los Angeles District Attorney has released new evidence in the case of Lyle and Eric Menendez that will likely lead to the reconsideration of their life sentences for murder.
After their highly publicized first trial ended in a mistrial, a jury convicted the Menendez brothers of murdering their parents, Jose and Kitty, after a second trial in 1996.
Although they never denied killing their parents, the brothers claimed they acted in self-defense and were lifelong victims of sexual abuse at the hands of their father. During the second trial, prosecutors argued that “abuse did not occur” and that the judge overseeing the case did not allow much defense evidence of abuse to be presented, according to the brothers’ attorney.
In July 1996, both men were sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Now, more than 35 years after the murders, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón has publicly released a screenshot of a letter that the brothers’ lawyers said supports Eric’s claims that he was sexually abused by his father.
On Sunday, Gascón shared a photo A The handwritten and undated letter in A Posting on his social media platforms. The letter was written by Eric Menendez and insinuates abuse.
“I’ve been trying to avoid my dad. It still happens with Andy, but it’s worse for me now. “I never know when it’s going to happen and it drives me crazy. Every night I stay awake thinking he might come.
An attorney for the Menendez brothers confirmed the authenticity of the letter Gascón posted, saying it was an excerpt of a letter included in the May 2023 habeas corpus petition filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, which CNN previously reported.
in PetitionLawyers say the letter was written by Eric Menendez to his cousin Andy Cano in December 1988 – months before Kitty and Jose were killed. Menendez’s lawyers say that if the letter had been presented as evidence during the 1996 trial, the jury might have reached a different conclusion.
“Mark and I are certainly pleased that the prosecutor is taking the time to consider the merits of the habeas corpus petition,” defense attorney Cliff Gardner told CNN in a statement, referring to Mark Geragos, who also represents the brothers.
“Given today’s very different understanding of the devastating impact of sexual and physical abuse on young children (both boys and girls), testimony about Jose’s sexual abuse of Lyle was excluded at the second trial and the remarkable new evidence presented in the habeas corpus petition,” Gardner said. “We believe “The return of the sentence is in the interest of justice.” “The brothers spent more than 30 years in prison. “And that’s enough.”
CNN has reached out to Gascón’s office for comment.
The case is back in the spotlight more than 30 years later, following last month’s release of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, a Netflix series created by prolific TV showrunner Ryan Murphy.
This month, Netflix also released a documentary about the Menendez case that shows the two men discussing what led up to the murders.
The family of Eric and Lyle Menendez said they would hold a news conference “in a strong show of unity” outside the Los Angeles courthouse on Wednesday, along with Gardner and Geragos.
Gascon’s office has Until November 26th To respond to the brothers’ petition to challenge the legality of their imprisonment.
At a press conference earlier this month, Gascón said his office had a “moral and ethical obligation to review” the Menendez brothers’ case. He is campaigning for re-election next November on a progressive platform that includes sentencing reform.
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