Lyle Menendez has been denied parole greater than three a long time after the 1989 killing of his dad and mom José and Kitty Menendez of their Beverly Hills dwelling.
The choice was handed down on Friday, August 22 after Lyle’s parole listening to, which the convicted assassin attended through video convention from the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego.
The choice comes simply in the future after Lyle’s brother Erik, 54, was additionally denied parole, who’s in jail for a similar homicide.
Lyle, 57, confronted a special panel of parole commissioners to his brother within the 10-hour listening to, the place his jail indiscretions, together with his illicit telephone use and reprimands for touching a feminine customer in a number of situations have been scrutinized. Lyle had unlawful possession of a telephone whereas incarcerated from 2018 to 2024.
Equally, throughout Erik’s listening to, his in-prison habits was checked out totally. Lead parole commissioner Robert Barton cited varied jail violations whereas Erik has been incarcerated, together with inappropriate habits with guests, drug smuggling, misuse of state computer systems, violent episodes in 1997 and 2011 and cellphone possession, per NewsNation.
The Menendez household launched an announcement following the choice, per NBC Los Angeles.
“This isn’t the tip of the highway. Each will go earlier than the Board once more, and their habeas petition stays underneath evaluate,” the household assertion learn. “Within the meantime, we all know they may take time to replicate on the Board’s suggestions and can proceed to steer, mentor, and construct applications that assist rehabilitation and hope for others.”
The assertion continued, “We all know they’re good males who’ve carried out the work to rehabilitate and are remorseful. We love them unconditionally and can proceed to face by them on the journey forward.”
Following Erik’s listening to, the household additionally launched a ready assertion, which was obtained by NewsNation on Thursday
“Whereas we respect the choice, at this time’s final result was after all disappointing and never what we hoped for,” Menendez relations stated within the assertion. “However our perception in Erik stays unwavering and we all know he’ll take the Board’s advice in stride. His regret, development, and the optimistic affect he’s had on others converse for themselves. We are going to proceed to face by him and maintain to the hope he is ready to return dwelling quickly.”
Erik and Lyle Menendez. (Picture by Ted Soqui/Sygma through Getty Photographs)
Lyle and Erik have been serving out their sentences in California’s Donovan Correctional Facility after being arrested in 1990 on two counts of first-degree homicide. The siblings grew to become individuals of curiosity after their father or mother have been discovered shot of their dwelling.
The brothers finally admitted to killing their dad and mom following years of alleged bodily, emotional and sexual abuse. The Menendez brothers have been discovered responsible of first-degree homicide and sentenced to life with out parole in 1996 after two high-profile trials.
After a resurgence of their case, Erik and Lyle have been resentenced to 50 years to life, which made them eligible for parole underneath California’s youthful offender legislation since they dedicated their crime underneath the age of 26.
Erik Menendez has acquired a choice following his parole listening to whereas his brother Lyle’s destiny nonetheless hangs within the stability. Erik, 54, was denied parole at his listening to which happened on Thursday, August 21. Lyle’s listening to will happen on Friday, August 22. “Whereas we respect the choice, at this time’s final result was after all disappointing […]
Previous to the hearings, Nathan Hochman, Los Angeles’ present district legal professional, defined why he was in opposition to Erik and Lyle’s launch.
“The Menendez brothers have by no means absolutely accepted accountability for the horrific murders of their dad and mom, as a substitute persevering with to advertise a false narrative of self-defense that was rejected by the jury a long time in the past,” Hochman stated in a Wednesday, August 20, assertion. “We’ve persistently opposed their launch as a result of they haven’t demonstrated full perception into their crimes or proven that they’ve been absolutely rehabilitated, and due to this fact proceed to pose a threat to society. We are going to consider our closing place primarily based on the proof offered on the listening to.”
The case has been the inspiration for a number of films and documentaries, together with a 2024 launch of a Netflix documentary and sequence. Hochman insisted this curiosity gained’t have an effect on the listening to final result.
“Whereas latest documentaries and movies have drawn renewed consideration to this case, parole selections have to be primarily based solely on the info and the legislation,” he continued. “This case, like all circumstances — particularly people who captivate the general public — have to be seen with a important eye. Justice ought to by no means be swayed by spectacle.”
