In the wake of the recent announcement recommending re-sentencing Lyle Menendez And Erik Menendezthe Beverly Hills Police Department has issued a formal statement on the high-profile case that rocked the nation more than three decades ago.

Although the department did not immediately comment on the details of the Menéndez brothersIn condemning the decision, it reaffirmed its commitment to justice and recognized the public’s renewed interest in the case.

The Menéndez Brothers’ first trial resulted in a deadlock, resulting in a second trial

The case, which dates back to August 20, 1989, unfolded when Lyle and Erik Menéndez shot and killed their parents, Jose and Kitty Menéndez, in their Beverly Hills home. Lyle was 21 and Erik 18 at the time; they used shotguns purchased just days before the crime.

Prosecutors alleged that the brothers killed their wealthy parents for financial gain, while the defense argued that they acted in self-defense after suffering years of sexual abuse at the hands of their father.

During the first trial in 1994, the juries were unable to reach a unanimous decision after hearing Lyle and Erik’s testimony. The brothers claimed they acted in self-defense, claiming they feared their parents would kill them to keep secret the alleged abuse they suffered.

The standoff resulted in a mistrial, which led to a second trial, where the brothers were ultimately convicted.

District Attorney George Gascón has proposed re-sentencing the Menéndez brothers

More than 30 years after Lyle and Erik Menéndez were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of their parents, the brothers may now have a chance at release.

On Friday, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón is expected to recommend that a judge resentence the siblings — a decision made after a review following attorneys’ presentation of new evidence in 2023 that they say substantiates the allegations of abuse by the brothers’ father. .

“I will never excuse a murder, and those were brutal, premeditated murders,” Gascón told CNN on Thursday. “They were rightly convicted at the time they were tried. They were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. I just think that given the current state of the law and given our assessment of their behavior in prison, they deserve the opportunity to be re-evaluated and perhaps reintegrated into the community.”

The Beverly Hills Police Department releases a statement

The Beverly Hills Police Department, which led the investigation into the 1989 killings, released a statement neither endorsing nor contesting the district attorney’s recommendation.

“Today’s decision to recommend resentencing was made entirely by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. BHPD was not consulted or contacted by the District Attorney’s Office regarding this decision. As the investigating agency for the case, the BHPD presented relevant facts and evidence to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, which resulted in the filing of criminal charges at the time.”

The statement clarified that the agency was not involved in the decision-making process.

What led to the prosecutor’s decision?

Gascón acknowledged that while he believes the original sentencing of Lyle and Erik Menéndez more than three decades ago was appropriate, the brothers now deserve a reevaluation.

In an interview with CNN’s Stephanie Elam, he expressed his belief that the brothers had been sexually abused before the murders and that they had served enough time in prison.

He explained that he had reached his decision just an hour before making the public announcement, citing the differing opinions within his office. He noted that several factors influenced the resentencing recommendation, including statements from several family members who not only alleged that sexual abuse likely occurred, but also described the Menéndez household as highly dysfunctional for years.

What’s next for the Menéndez brothers?

A hearing on the case is expected to take place within the next 30 to 45 days, during which a Los Angeles Superior Court judge will decide whether the Menéndez brothers will seek revenge.

Gascón has expressed support for sentencing the brothers to life in prison with the possibility of parole, a sentence that would normally mean 50 years to life. However, because the brothers were both under the age of 26 at the time of the crimes, they are eligible for juvenile parole under California law.

The reexamination of the case comes more than 35 years after the fatal 1989 shooting of Jose and Kitty Menéndez in their Beverly Hills mansion. Their sons, who were 21 and 18 at the time, were arrested in 1990, less than a year after the murders, and ultimately convicted of first-degree murder in 1996.

Several factors contributed to the recidivism recommendation, but it remains uncertain whether the brothers – now in their 50s – will ultimately be released from prison.