Relatives and supporters of Erik and Lyle Menendez gathered Thursday morning outside the office of Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman for a rally and news conference aimed at advocating for the brothers' release. The event took place at 9 a.m. as part of their ongoing efforts to combat what they describe as decades of injustice.
The protest was organized by the Justice for Erik and Lyle Coalition, a family-led initiative that asserts the brothers endured severe abuse at the hands of their father. Their family members argue that the brothers have shown remorse for their actions, having admitted guilt and expressed apologies, yet claim that Hochman has disregarded their allegations of abuse.
In an interview with ABC News, Hochman reiterated his position, stating that he would reconsider the possibility of resentencing the Menendez brothers only if they acknowledged what he termed 'decades of lies' regarding their self-defense claims. ‘If they sincerely and unequivocally admit for the first time in over 30 years, the full range of their criminal activity and all the lies that they have told about it,’ Hochman stated, indicating he could be persuaded to recommend a change in their sentences.
This insistence comes after Hochman announced he was seeking to withdraw a previous resentencing motion made by former District Attorney George Gascón. Hochman argues that the brothers do not meet the standards for resentencing as they allegedly continue to uphold falsehoods concerning their self-defense defense.
According to Hochman, his office has identified a total of 20 lies the Menendez brothers have purported since the beginning of their trials. They have admitted to only four lies, leaving 16 that the prosecution believes are integral to their self-defense claims unacknowledged. “The essence of that checklist is that they’d have to finally admit after 30 years, they killed their parents willfully, deliberately and in a premeditated fashion, not because they believed that their parents were going to kill them that night,” Hochman remarked.
The brothers have been imprisoned for over three decades, serving life sentences for the 1989 shotgun murders of their parents, Kitty and Jose Menendez. Despite having confessed to the murders, Erik and Lyle maintain that their motivation was borne out of a longstanding history of sexual and physical abuse by their father. Hochman challenged the validity of these claims, stating, 'There was no additional corroboration of anyone in 12 years—whether it was another adult, a friend, a coach, a teacher—who reported on any recipient information that the sexual abuse occurred during those 12 years.'
Family members who support the Menendez brothers have been vocal in their criticism of Hochman’s stance. One cousin described the district attorney's tone as ‘hostile, dismissive and patronizing’, pointing out that Hochman is disregarding the suffering the brothers endured.
The upcoming court hearings will play a critical role in the ongoing debate about the brothers' future. Initially set for March 20, the hearing on Hochman’s motion to withdraw the resentencing recommendation has been rescheduled to April 11. Depending on this court's decision, opportunities for a potential resentencing hearing could arise on April 17 or 18.
Additionally, the Menendez brothers are pursuing a separate path to freedom through a habeas corpus petition indicating new evidence that was not introduced during their original trials. This includes a letter Erik wrote to a cousin revealing his alleged abuse eight months before the murders, along with allegations from a former boy band member claiming he was raped by Jose Menendez.
The ongoing evaluation of the brothers’ cases has also attracted the attention of California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has ordered the state parole board to assess whether they pose an unreasonable risk to public safety. Hochman noted that the results of this assessment will heavily influence any decisions made about potential clemency or resentencing.
On June 13, another clemency hearing is expected to take place, which could open further discussions on the future of Erik and Lyle. In light of past developments, Hochman’s office continues to contest the credibility of the evidence suggesting the brothers deserve another look at their sentences, reinforcing their commitment to a thoroughly judicial review of the Menendez case.
While the rally highlighted ongoing familial support for Erik and Lyle, the district attorney’s office is adamant that the path to freedom will require clear acknowledgments from the brothers of their past, bringing the ongoing fight for their release into a complex legal fray.
