From the beginning, the case of the brothers Lyle and Erik Menéndez has fascinated both local and international audiences. After new evidence came to light, along with a new media ‘boom’ following the Netflix production ‘Monsters’ and a subsequent documentary on the same streaming platform, the story of this crime that shook people in the late 80s has gained relevance once again.
Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón told NBC News that he expects to have a decision on the case of the Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik, in approximately 10 days.
What did the lawyer of the Menendez brothers say about the new possibilities of freedom?
After Gascón announced last week that his office is reviewing evidence that was not considered during the trial to determine whether they should serve a life sentence, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel for Lyle and Eirk.
Dozens of relatives along with defense attorney, Mark Geragos, led a press conference in Los Angeles this Wednesday.
One of the elements that has completely shaken up this case is the emergence of a letter that Erik Menéndez sent to his cousin Andy Cano in 1988, months before the homicides. In it, the younger of the brothers described the abuses he was suffering at the hands of his father.
This document was not presented during the original trials, in which the Menéndez brothers' lawyers argued that the crimes were a direct result of years of abuse. However, at that time, many testimonies on this subject were rejected, weakening the defense.
Along with the letter, another one of the 'new' elements that have emerged regarding the case against José Menéndez, a record executive and father of the brothers, when he was a teenager, is the testimony of Roy Rosselló, former member of the band Menudo, who claimed to have been abused by José, just like his children.
Geragos is seeking a review of the conviction under Article 1172.1 of the United States Penal Code, which considers trauma and abuse as mitigating factors. If the case is reviewed, Lyle and Erik Menéndez could finally be released. Gascón has until November to decide whether to proceed with this, as the next hearing to review the case is scheduled for November 26th.