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The Menendez Brothers case remains one of the most controversial in American history. Directed by Alejandro Hartmann re-examines the infamous trial that took place in the 1990s. This documentary came out on October 7, 2024 on Netflix. The movie shows the shocking way how Erik and Lyle Menendez killed Jose and Kitty Menendez in their Beverly Hills mansion on August 20, 1989.
The documentary digs into both sides' claims of abuse and greed, using interviews and footage that haven't been seen before. The Netflix documentary also introduces two new characters, Diane Vander Molen, the brothers' cousin, and Pamela Bozanich, a prosecutor involved in their trial.
People watching this new version of The Menendez Brothers may wonder: Did the brothers kill their parents in self-defense or did they plan to kill them? This question follows the story around and is directly linked to the main conflict. The film shows both sides and keeps viewers on the edge.
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The Menendez Brothers documentary introduces new evidence and insights that paint a fuller picture of the family dynamic. Hartmann uses his fresh perspective to draw out raw, unfiltered stories from the brothers and others involved in the case. The documentary sheds light on the complexities of their defense and explores how their childhood trauma influenced their actions.
The official synopsis of the documentary as per Netflix says:
"Serving life in prison for murdering their parents, Lyle and Erik Menendez speak out in this documentary examining the shocking crime and ensuing trials."
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for The Menendez Brothers.
The beginning of the trial in The Menendez Brothers
The Menendez brothers were put on trial in 1993 and found guilty in 1996. But Erik and Lyle Menendez never denied that they killed their parents. They said that it was in self-defense because their father, Jose Menendez, had s*xually abused them for years.
As part of their defense, the brothers' lawyers said that the crime was caused by years of trauma that had broken their hearts. But the prosecution said that the killings were done out of greed, with the goal of getting their hands on their parents' $14 million estate.
Erik even expressed surprise when the police didn't suspect them initially. He said:
“The gunpowder residue was all over our hands. …There were gun shells in my car. If they would have just pressed me, I wouldn't have been able to withstand any questioning. I was in a completely broken and shattered state of mind. I was shell-shocked.”
Shocking testimonies
While they were on trial, the Menendez brothers talked about how badly their father abused them. The movie shows scenes from courtrooms where both brothers cry as they talk about how horrible their childhood was.
Lyle talked about how their father made him do bad things, while Erik talked about how he did the same thing to get his father's attention. The testimony split the courtroom. Even though many jurors were moved, the prosecution stuck to the case that the brothers had killed their parents to get theitr money.
Lyle said how he felt after the murder:
“There was a feeling of some relief, being arrested," he says. "Like so many of the emotions in that time of my life, it doesn’t make a lot of sense.”
The verdict
After two trials that got a lot of attention, the Menendez brothers were given life sentences without the chance of parole. The documentary goes back to these last moments to show how emotionally tough the trial was for everyone involved.
Even though there were claims of abuse, the brothers were eventually found guilty of first-degree murder, which has made many wonder if justice was really done. Even though their father reportedly abused them physically, Erik said that his life was aimless after the incident.
“The idea that I was having a good time is absurd. Everything was to cover up this horrible pain of not wanting to be alive.”
The discovery of Erik’s Letter
The documentary shows new evidence that came to light recently. Erik Menendez wrote a letter to his cousin Andy Cano eight months before the murders, where he talked about how afraid he was of his abusive father and how hard it was for him to deal with it.
This letter, found after Cano's death in 2003, could be very important in getting the case going again. Erik's words make it sound like he was always scared that his father would kill him.
Roy Rossello's testimony
Roy Rossello, who used to be in the boy band Menudo, said in an affidavit from 2023 that Jose Menendez had also se**ally abused him. It's now more complicated to figure out if the abuse was worse than first thought after this shocking new information.
Life behind bars
The Menendez brothers are in jail at the RJ Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, California. In the film, Erik talks about his time in jail and how painting has helped him deal with his problems.
Both brothers have said that they are sorry and regret what happened to them as kids, and they both say that the abuse they went through was real. They are now waiting to see if they can get a new trial. They hope that the new evidence shown in the documentary will give them another chance to make their case.
Read more: Were the Menendez Brothers paid for Netflix's Monsters?
A tragic conclusion
After watching The Menendez Brothers, people have a better understanding of how complicated the feelings were surrounding the case. In their 50s now, the Menendez brothers have been in prison for more than 30 years.
The new interviews with Erik and Lyle show two men who are still grappling with the consequences of their actions. Although they say that their abusive father was the main reason for his murder, the trauma of what happened still follows them.
Since new evidence emerged, it's possible that there could be a new trial. The letter from Erik and the affidavit from Rossello could change the course of the brothers' court case, but it's not clear if they will ever be set free.
The Menendez Brothers documentary shows one of the most controversial cases in U.S. history in a deep and disturbing way. It gives a fuller picture of the terrible events that happened in 1989 by combining new interviews with the brothers with key people from the trial.
Erik and Lyle Menendez are still awaiting a possible retrial, but their story leaves a powerful message regarding how complicated family, abuse and crime can be.
The Menendez Brothers is streaming on Netflix.
