When will the DA announce judgement on Lyle and Erik Menendez resentencing? Explored

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón is expected to announce a decision that can have much significance for brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez, who murdered their parents in 1989. They are serving life sentences without any chance of parole.

However, new evidence in the form of complaints of s*xual abuse brought their case before the offices of District Attorney George Gascón once again for review. Thursday, October 24, 2024, has been set at 1:30 PM PT for this appearance in court after more than several months of review, which included a Habeas Corpus petition filed by the brothers' attorneys.

Whereas the District Attorney can recommend, the courts must decide whether brothers should be resentenced. As Gascón put it, his office has a "moral and ethical obligation" to give appropriate weight to the evidence and the brothers' claims.

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Why are Lyle and Erik Menendez seeking resentencing?

The Menendez brothers, now in their 50s, were convicted of first-degree murders for killing their parents with fatal shots in their Beverly Hills home. While the prosecution argued that their motive was greed, pointing to the brothers' lavish spending after the murders, the defense argued that the brothers acted out of fear after years of s*xual abuse by their father.

Their mother, the brothers maintained, stood by during the s*xual abuse. Fresh evidence in 2023 led to reopening the case for review. This new evidence includes allegations brought forward by Roy Rosselló, a former member of the boy band Menudo, claiming he was s*xually abused by Jose Menendez back in the 1980s.

Additionally, a letter that Erik wrote to his cousin before the murders, detailing abuses against them, has been found. Such findings brought about the need for reevaluation of what Lyle and Erik Menendez said about their allegations of maltreatment, perhaps not proper considerations during their trial.

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DA's review of the case

The case has been under review by District Attorney George Gascón since 2023, and the decision on whether to recommend resentencing is now imminent.

"There are people in my office who believe they should never get any relief, and others who believe they should," Gascón told Newsweek. "I have now decided we will go through a thorough process of investigating both the new evidence for habeas and whether they have been rehabilitated for resentencing."

Speaking at a press conference recently, Gascón said resentencing was topical but revealed an "open mind" would be kept in view since the purpose is to bring about justice based on current understandings of s*xual abuse and trauma. Family members of the Menendez brothers have publicly supported their release, citing the abuse they endured as a major factor in the killings.

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What happens next?

As soon as Gascón issues his recommendation, it will be up to the judge to decide whether to approve or reject the resentencing of Lyle and Erik Menendez. The chances of them getting out and possibly receiving lighter sentences might be possible. However, the outcome remains uncertain, and the legal process may take time, even after the DA's announcement.

The case has once again been re-ignited and gained attention because of the new evidence and a greater understanding of the long-run effects of s*xual abuse on a person in society. Whether this brings a change in the verdict of the case remains to be seen now in the hands of the legal system.

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For more details on the case of Lyle and Erik Menendez, stream the Netflix documentary Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. and The Menendez Brothers.