The Menendez brothers’ long fight for freedom faces another setback as family members express outrage over the Los Angeles District Attorney’s decision to oppose a new trial. Could this high-profile case finally see a resolution after more than three decades?
At a Glance
- Family members of Lyle and Erik Menendez are criticizing LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman for opposing a new trial
- California Governor Gavin Newsom has initiated a clemency process by ordering a risk assessment report
- The brothers have been incarcerated for over 35 years for the 1989 murder of their parents
- They have three potential legal avenues: clemency, resentencing, or a new trial through a habeas petition
- A resentencing hearing is scheduled for March 20-21, with the DA yet to announce his recommendation
Ongoing Legal Battle Continues
The family of Lyle and Erik Menendez is fighting back after Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman opposed the brothers’ petition for a new trial. The brothers, who have spent over 35 years behind bars for the 1989 killing of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, are seeking justice through multiple legal channels as relatives argue that new evidence and a modern understanding of trauma should lead to their release.
The case, which captivated the nation in the 1990s, has gained renewed attention following a surge of social media interest and documentary coverage. Family members believe the brothers should be freed based on what they describe as a flawed initial trial that failed to properly consider evidence of alleged abuse by their father.
Menendez brothers’ family frustrated over DA’s decision to deny killer siblings new trial: ‘Very disparaging’ https://t.co/Lvt2AYskbW pic.twitter.com/bgsjz2vIQR
— New York Post (@nypost) February 28, 2025
Governor Newsom Steps In
In a surprising development that has given the family hope, California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered the state parole board to investigate the case as part of a potential clemency process. This marks one of three possible paths to freedom for the Menendez brothers, alongside their petition for a new trial and an upcoming resentencing hearing scheduled for March.
The family’s reaction to Newsom’s intervention stands in stark contrast to their criticism of DA Hochman, who questioned the credibility of new evidence presented in the brothers’ habeas petition. The District Attorney’s Office has cast doubt on the relevance of abuse allegations that the defense claims were not properly considered during the original trial.
CNN – "L.A. DA urges judge to deny #MenendezBrothers’ request for a new trial"
“District Attorney Nathan Hochman took us right back to 1996 today. He opened the wounds we have spent decades trying to heal. He didn’t listen to us,” reads a statement from the family-led Justice… pic.twitter.com/emvJ3Oh7jY— Rob Rand Wants Justice for the Menendez Brothers (@MenendezRand) February 22, 2025
Model Prisoners Seeking Second Chance
Supporters point to the brothers’ exemplary behavior during their decades of incarceration. According to family members, both Lyle and Erik have earned college diplomas and led support groups for fellow inmates, demonstrating rehabilitation. This positive prison record could factor into both the resentencing decision and any potential clemency granted by Governor Newsom.
While the DA has opposed a new trial, he has not yet announced his position on resentencing, leaving the door open for a potential reduction in the brothers’ life sentences without parole. The legal proceedings have highlighted the evolving understanding of trauma and abuse, with supporters arguing that modern courts would view the case differently than juries did in the 1990s.
