The Menendez brothers, who were convicted of murdering their parents and were the subject of a controversial recent Netflix drama, could be released on parole.

Erik, now 53, and Lyle, 56, were jailed for the 1989 murders of their parents Kitty and Jose Menendez, who were shot numerous times while watching television in their Beverly Hills mansion.

During the sensational trial that followed, which captivated the American public, the Menendez brothers claimed the shootings were in self-defense after suffering years of emotional, physical and sexual abuse at the hands of their father.

However, prosecutors said at the time that the claims were fabricated and that the killings were revenge because they were written out of their father’s will. The brothers were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

The couple’s story was told in Ryan Murphy’s Netflix series Monsters: The Story of Lyle and Erik Menendezstarring Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Erik Cooper Koch, which has brought renewed attention to the case.

Now a top prosecutor has recommended that the brothers be resentenced by a judge.

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said Thursday (Oct. 24) that he believes the couple has “paid their debt to society” and that “the system provides a means by which their case can proceed through a court of law.” are being assessed,” adding: “I believe the brothers were victims of a tremendous amount of dysfunction in their home, and abuse.”

During a press conference attended by some of Kitty Menendez’s family members, Gascón said: “After careful investigation, I came to a point where I believe a new sentencing is appropriate. I’m going to recommend that to the court tomorrow.

“What that means is we’re going to recommend that the life without the possibility of parole be expunged, and that they be convicted of murder, which, because there were two murders, is 50 years to life. But because they were under the age of 26 when these crimes occurred, the law makes them immediately eligible for parole.”

He further acknowledged that the case has been deeply divisive.

“We don’t have a universal agreement,” Gascón admitted. “There are people in the office (who) strongly believe that they should spend the rest of their lives in prison, they do not believe that they have been abused, and there are people (who) strongly believe that they should immediately should be released.”

While many have welcomed the move, others say Gascón is using the media attention to curry favor as part of his re-election bid, with voters heading to the polls in less than two weeks.

When asked about the possible reasons behind his decision, Gascón said there was “nothing political about this,” adding: “We have reconvicted more than 300 people, including 28 for murder. We will continue to convict people again.”

The chance of parole apparently hinges on evidence not presented at the original trials: a scathing letter from Erik to a cousin about the abuse eight months before the murders, and accusations from Puerto Rican singer Roy Rosselló, a former member of the group. the teen boy band Menudo, who claimed Jose Menendez also sexually assaulted him.