The Los Angeles County district attorney recommended Wednesday that Lyle and Erik Menendez, the brothers known for the 1989 shotgun slayings of their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion, be resentenced. District Attorney George Gascón announced at a news conference that his office would be recommending that the brothers, who are currently serving a life sentence without parole, be resentenced to 50 years to life. However, because they were under 26 years old at the time of the killings, they will be eligible for parole.
Lyle was 21 and Erik was 18 when they shot José and Kitty Menendez in the family’s living room. Gascón’s announcement came amid a groundswell of advocacy for the brothers, who admitted they killed José and Kitty Menendez but said they acted in self-defense after enduring years of physical and sexual abuse by their father. Their supporters, including their close relatives , believe that were they tried today — when society has a better understanding of child sexual abuse and trauma — they would have received a lighter sentence than life without parole.
Lyle and Erik Menendez — 21 and 18, respectively, at the time of their crimes — have served more than 34 years in prison. They could be released if they were resentenced to a shorter term. Only a judge, not the district attorney, can resentence the men.
That could happen in as soon as 30 days, according to Variety , or in a future court hearing. The men’s freedom might also depend on the .
