LOS ANGELES (KABC)– Family participants of the Erik and Lyle Menendez held a press conference Thursday mid-day to review the current growths in the bros’ situation.
They responded to The golden state Gov. Gavin Newsom getting the state parole board to carry out a “thorough danger analysis” to identify if the bros might posture an “unreasonable danger to the general public” if they are launched from jail.
” They declare advance to Erik and Lyle’s launch,” claimed Anamaria Baralt, a relative of the bros, claimed concerning Newsom’s activities.
” We are extremely happy that Gov. Newsom is taking note of this situation … For our household, it is a big sigh of alleviation that a person in a catbird seat is payig focus to what we have actually seen up close considering that Erik and Lyle have actually been jailed. We have actually seen their recovery over the last couple of years, without hope of relase previously.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom asked the parole board to release a “thorough danger analysis” examination right into whether the bros posture a threat if launched.
” The Guv’s main factor to consider when assessing commutation applications is public security, that includes the candidate’s existing danger degree, the effect of a commutation on sufferers and survivors, the candidate’s self-development and conduct considering that the violation, and if the candidate has actually utilized offered corrective programs, resolved therapy requirements, and minimized danger elements for reoffending,” the guv’s workplace claimed in the letter to the sibling’s defense lawyer, Mark Geragos. “The Guv’s Workplace will certainly make the searchings for of the Board’s danger analysis examination offered to the court and the Area Lawyer.”
” There’s no warranty of result right here,” Newsom claimed Wednesday on his brand-new podcast, “This is Gavin Newsom.” “My workplace performs loads and loads of these clemency examines on a regular basis. However this procedure just offers even more openness, which I assume is very important in this situation, in addition to offers us even more due persistance prior to I make any kind of decision for clemency.”
Criminal legislation expert, Lou Shapiro, claimed he bewares concerning the timing of Newsom’s statement on Wednesday.
” I would certainly claim it’s a motivating indicator, at the exact same time there is no coincidence that Guv Newsom made this statement when he is introducing his brand-new podcast,” he claimed.
Geragos informed ABC Information on Wednesday that he’s “gratified and confident” adhering to Newsom’s demand to the parole board. He launched a declaration Wednesday that claimed partially: “The household recognizes that the Guv’s activity does not imply he will certainly commute the sentences. Rather, this first action shows the Guv’s thought about choice to a minimum of get the info needed to make a reasonable choice.”
A team of Menendez family members that are supporting for the bros’ launch held off an interview arranged for Wednesday following Newsom’s letter.
Ninety days have actually been allocated for the danger analysis examination. If Newsom after that sustains the bros’ launch, the situation will certainly head to the parole board, which has up to 6 months to assess the situation.
Lyle and Erik Menendez, that are offering life behind bars without the opportunity of parole, have actually sent an ask for clemency to Newsom. In November, the guv claimed he would certainly accept Los Angeles Region Area Lawyer Nathan Hochman’s “testimonial and evaluation” of the situation prior to making any kind of choices.
L.A. Region Area Lawyer Nathan Hochman claimed he’s asked the court to reject the Menendez bros’ habeas corpus application, which intends to obtain a brand-new test or the situation threw out.
According to the general public documents of their jail conduct, while both have superb documents, Erik Menendez’s is almost unblemished, and Lyle Menendez’s is tainted by a couple of violations. Jail authorities have actually complimented both bros for their deal with part of the prisoner populace, consisting of establishing hospice programs and an unique eco-friendly room program at the Richard J. Donovan Reformatory near San Diego.
Besides clemency, the bros have actually been going after 2 various other courses to liberty.
One is the bros’ habeas corpus application, which was submitted in 2023 for a testimonial of 2 brand-new items of proof absent at test: a letter Erik Menendez contacted his relative 8 months prior to the murders outlining his claimed misuse from his dad, and claims from a previous young boy band participant that disclosed in 2023 that he was raped by Jose Menendez.
Hochman revealed Friday he’s asked the court to reject the bros’ habeas corpus application, suggesting the brand-new proof isn’t reliable or acceptable.
The various other is resentencing.
In October, then-L.A. Region Area Lawyer George Gascón revealed he sustained resentencing for the bros. Gascón advised their sentences of life without the opportunity of parole be eliminated, and claimed they must rather be punished for murder, which would certainly be a sentence of half a century to life. Due to the fact that both bros were under 26 at the time of the criminal activities, they would certainly be qualified for parole instantly with the brand-new sentence.
The DA’s workplace claimed its resentencing suggestions take into consideration lots of elements, consisting of recovery behind bars and misuse or injury that added to the criminal activity. Gascón commended the job Lyle and Erik Menendez did behind bars to restore themselves and aid various other prisoners.
Weeks after Gascón’s statement, he shed his race for reelection to Hochman.
” Below they are being informed with any luck they will certainly be home for the vacations, it appeared like the media energy was truly on their side and DA Gascon appeared to be attempting to press it, yet it had not been quickly sufficient. and when the political election happened and a brand-new DA took control of, the deck was reshuffled,” claimed Shapiro.
When Hochman entered into workplace on Dec. 3, he assured to assess all the truths prior to reaching his very own choice. Hochman has yet to reveal if he remains in assistance of or versus resentencing for the bros.
Lyle and Erik Menendez are offering life sentences after being founded guilty of murder in their moms and dads’ fatalities. They called TMZ’s “2 Angry Males” podcast as they wait for a resentencing hearing following month.
A hearing concerning the resentencing situation is established for March 20 and 21.
The Menendez bros’ situation started in 1989, when Lyle Menendez, after that 21, and Erik Menendez, after that 18, shot and eliminated their moms and dads, Feline and Jose Menendez, in the household’s Beverly Hills home.
The protection asserted the bros acted in protection after sustaining years of sexual assault by their dad. District attorneys affirmed they eliminated for cash.
Their initial test finished in a mistrial. Lyle and Erik Menendez were founded guilty in 1996 following their 2nd test.
The bros were punished to 2 successive life jail terms without the opportunity of parole.
ABC Information added to this record.
Copyright © 2025 KABC Tv, LLC. All civil liberties scheduled.
