Topline

The Los Angeles County district attorney will ask a judge Friday to resentence Lyle and Erik Menendez — potentially opening the door for the two brothers to be released from prison after being convicted of killing their parents and were sentenced to life in prison without punishment. the possibility of early release.

Key facts

Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text alerts so you’re always up to date with the top stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text ‘Alerts’ to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here.

Crucial quote

“We are confident not only that the brothers have been rehabilitated and that they will be safely reintegrated into our society, but that they have also paid their dues,” Gascón said.

Important background

The Menendez brothers were convicted of the murders of their parents, José and Kitty, who were shot six and ten times in their home, respectively, in August 1989. The brothers initially told police they were not home when the murders occurred. but Erik eventually confessed to his psychologist. The brothers did not deny killing their parents, but claimed they shot them out of fear for their lives after being sexually abused by their father. They also alleged that their mother was an alcohol and drug addict, which allowed her husband to abuse the boys. The first trials – where each brother was tried separately – were major news events and contained evidence of the brothers’ abuse, but both resulted in mistrials. In the second trial, when they were tried together, the judge did not allow much of the abuse evidence to be admitted and said the “abuse excuse” argument was not allowed, The New York Times reported, leading to the couple was convicted the first time they were tried. -degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

News Peg

The Menendez brothers’ story was catapulted back into the mainstream thanks to Murphy’s Netflix series “Monsters.” The show “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” focused on their relationship and was the most-watched series on Netflix for two weeks in a row before dropping to second, third and fourth places in the following weeks, for a total of 506 .5 million viewing hours from September 23 to October 20. The series caused controversy in large part because the brothers had an incestuous relationship, despite both denying they had a sexual relationship. In response to criticism over the decision to portray the relationship, Murphy said: “There are people who say this never happened, there were people who said it did.”

Read more

ForbesProsecutors could back the Menendez brothers today as controversial “Monsters” remain high on NetflixBy means of Mary Whitfill RoeloffsAP NewsProsecutors are recommending that Erik and Lyle Menendez be re-sentenced for the 1989 murder of their parents
AP NewsProsecutors are recommending that Erik and Lyle Menendez be re-sentenced for the 1989 murder of their parents