The Menéndez brothers have had a very important breakthrough on the road to their possible freedom. This Thursday, the district attorney of Los Angeles County, George Gascón, announced that he will request a lesser sentence for brothers Erik and Lyle Menéndez after reviewing their case following the emergence of new evidence.
The brothers, known for the highly publicized case in the late 80s where they both took the lives of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, have served their life sentence for the past 28 years.
What did the Los Angeles prosecutor say about the Menendez brothers and their case?
Gascón made the announcement at a press conference at the Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles, amid huge media anticipation, and accompanied by family members of the brothers who have advocated for their release for years.
According to prosecutor Erik, he doesn't believe Erik and Lyle represent a danger to society: "Based on everything I know, I don't think they are," he said in an interview with People. "Honestly, I don't think they have been for a long time, if they ever were. It's not like they were out there killing people or stealing," he added.
The prosecutor said he will ask for their current sentence of life imprisonment without parole to be changed to a sentence of 50 years to life imprisonment, which given their age at the time of the murders, would allow them to request parole "immediately."
This news comes at a time when the Menendez case had regained relevance in the court of public opinion, following the release of productions by Netflix such as the dramatic series 'Monsters: The Erik and Lyle Menendez Story', as well as the documentary, which had the participation and approval of the real-life brothers.
It is stated there that both brothers were subjected to sexual and psychological abuse by their father since childhood, with the mother's complicity.
Celebrities like Kim Kardashian also advocated for reducing the brothers' sentence.
In addition, a few weeks ago it was announced the emergence of new evidence and the intention to review the case was reignited, also highlighting the good behavior of the siblings and their rehabilitation during their almost three decades behind bars.
Lyle, 56, and Erik, 53, are currently serving life sentences without the possibility of parole after being found guilty of the first-degree murders of their parents, José and Kitty Menéndez, in 1989. Authorities argued during their trial that they committed the murders to inherit their parents’ wealth, while the defendants claimed self-defense because, they said, they had been victims of abuse by their father.