Menendez brothers resentencing set for next weekBy Daniela Pizzirani, Nicole Price, Fauziah Ibrahim and Ghada AliTopic:Courts1h ago1 hours agoSat 10 May 2025 at 10:43pmThe hearing will focus on whether the Menendez brothers have been rehabilitated in prison.abc.net.au/news/menendez-brothers-court-case-resentencing-next-week/105277900Link copiedShareShare articleThe Menendez brothers are set to bid for shorter sentences and a shot at freedom on Tuesday and Wednesday in a US legal case that is stirring up controversy and reigniting debate about alleged sexual abuse.The re-sentencing hearing for brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez, who were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole 35 years ago for killing their parents, got underway after a judge denied the prosecution's motion to withdraw a petition on Friday.The brothers, who have been waiting for their re-sentencing since last November, argued that they committed the crimes in self-defence after years of abuse by their father.Erik Menendez (right) and brother Lyle (left) have been in prison for more than half their lives. (Reuters: Lee Celano)Their bid for freedomThe re-sentencing will focus on the brothers' prison records and whether they have been rehabilitated or still pose a danger to the people of California.The court is expected to hear from a number of family members, prison staff and guards, who will testify on behalf of the brothers in the upcoming hearing.The position of the defence is that the brothers are ready to be released.The extended Menendez family is set to testify next week. (AP: Photo/Damian Dovarganes)On Friday, lawyers for the brothers, who appeared by video link from prison in San Diego, withdrew a motion to have Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman removed from the case.In March, Mr Hochman said the brothers had repeatedly lied about why they killed their parents and they "fell short" of taking full responsibility for their crimes.Mr Hochman's predecessor as district attorney, George Gascon, had favoured releasing the brothers based on evidence that recently came to light suggesting they may have been abused by their parents.Erik (left) and Lyle Menendez (right) were convicted of first-degree murder in 1996. (Reuters: HO/SN)The 1989 murder caseThe Menendez brothers were convicted in 1996 of first-degree murder for shooting their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, at their Beverly Hills home on August 20, 1989.The case captivated the US in the 1990s because of the brothers' wealth and privilege. Their father was a record company and entertainment industry executive.Lyle, now 57, was 21 at the time of the murders, and Erik, now 54, was 18.Erik Menendez looks at negatives of pictures taken of himself and his brother Lyle. (Reuters: STR New)A recent Netflix documentary series raised new evidence to support their claims they were sexually abused by their parents, leading to Mr Gascon advocating for them to be re-sentenced on a lesser crime and released.The brothers at first denied involvement in the murders and attempted to make the shooting look like an organised crime hit but later admitted killing their parents, claiming self-defence.A jury convicted them of first-degree murder after the second of two highly publicised trials, the first of which ended in a hung jury.Lyle (left) and Erik Menendez in Beverly Hills Municipal Court in 1990. (AP: Photo/Nick Ut)'Complete miscarriage of justice'Journalist and author Robert Rand, who has been following the brothers' case for the past three decades, believes the second Menedez trial was "a complete miscarriage of justice"."The jury in the second trial was not allowed to hear most of the evidence of abuse that the jurors in the first trial had heard," he told ABC News Channel.Rand said when he interviewed the jurors for the first time, all the women voted for manslaughter — which is a lesser form of murder — while all the men voted for murder."The men all told me a father would never do that to his son," he said.In the 90s, the mainstream media in the US was calling the brothers "greedy rich kids", Rand said."There was no social media so, once the media set the logline for your case, it was hard to fight back."Supporters rally outside a Los Angeles courthouse in support of the brothers. (AP: Photo/Damian Dovarganes)'People are now willing to accept that these things do go on'Rand, who has written a book about the brothers and considers himself close friends with them, said society had evolved a great deal since they first went on trial."People are now willing to accept that these things do go on within families," he said.The brothers have supporters all over the world, with more than half of their supporters living outside of the US, Rand said."They have spent more than half of their lives incarcerated."When I met them, they were 18 and 21. They were shy, quiet, college-age guys and now they are middle-aged men."Rand said he believed it was time to review the case and have the brothers sent home to their family.Lyle Menendez (left) and journalist Robert Rand (right) in 2018. (Supplied: Robert Rand)Posted 1h ago1 hours agoSat 10 May 2025 at 10:43pmShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesIsrael is keeping up its blockade of aid as kids starve to deathTopic:WarPhoto shows A small baby in a pink onesie sleeps on a blue and yellow blanket.Dumped minister says speaking out on Gaza partly to blame for demotionTopic:ALPPhoto shows Ed Husic, wearing a suit, sitting on a green bench.How Australia's biggest pokies dynasty is rewriting its legacyTopic:GamblingPhoto shows Len Ainsworth poses for a portrait at a table in a dark room with poker machines behind him.Harry, Charles and the grief dilemma tearing apart the royal familyTopic:RoyaltyPhoto shows An older man and two younger men 'Next Canva or Atlassian': Orange is looking to realise dreams of business grandeurTopic:AgriculturePhoto shows Aerial view of Orange in NSW.Related storiesThe Menendez brothers' bid for a shorter sentence is delayed againTopic:CourtsPhoto shows Two booking photos provided by the California Department of Corrections shows Erik Menendez, left, and Lyle Menendez.Menendez brothers face second chance as re-sentencing hearing goes aheadTopic:CourtsPhoto shows Undated image of brothers Erik (L) and Lyle Menendez in a court room.Related topicsCourtsHomicidePrisonsUnited StatesTop StoriesIsrael is keeping up its blockade of aid as kids starve to deathTopic:WarPhoto shows A small baby in a pink onesie sleeps on a blue and yellow blanket.Dumped minister says speaking out on Gaza partly to blame for demotionTopic:ALPHow Australia's biggest pokies dynasty is rewriting its legacyTopic:GamblingHarry, Charles and the grief dilemma tearing apart the royal familyTopic:Royalty'Next Canva or Atlassian': Orange is looking to realise dreams of business grandeurTopic:AgricultureJust InThermal imaging helping aerial shooters keep feral deer out of townTopic:Environmental Management11m ago11 minutes agoSun 11 May 2025 at 12:17amThousands of everlasting daisies turn farm into social media hotspotTopic:Feel Good11m ago11 minutes agoSun 11 May 2025 at 12:17amA degenerative disease stole Daniel's voice, now AI is bringing it backTopic:Artificial Intelligence18m ago18 minutes agoSun 11 May 2025 at 12:11amAfter years of unexplained mood swings, a four letter diagnosis changed Kris's life Topic:Health23m ago23 minutes agoSun 11 May 2025 at 12:06amMore Just InBack to top