The judge says that the Menendez brothers' resentence hearings can go on.

     

                                                                                                                                                       Friday, a judge ruled that Erik and Lyle Menendez's resentencing hearings can proceed. The brothers, who were found guilty of murdering their parents in 1996, presented new evidence last year claiming long-term abuse. Previous L.A. George Gascón, the district attorney, was in favor of resentencing. However, Judge Michael Jesic denied the motion of the current DA Nathan Hochman to withdraw the request, citing the brothers' lack of accountability. The hearings are scheduled for April 17 and 18, and the state parole board is also looking into clemency.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Full Story

 Resentencing hearings for Erik and Lyle Menendez can move forward, a judge ruled Friday, April 11.

 For the murder of their parents in their Beverly Hills home in 1989, the Menendez brothers are currently serving life sentences. After two trials, the brothers were convicted in 1996 and sentenced to life in prison.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 New evidence raises abuse allegations

 The brothers presented new evidence in the fall of last year, 35 years after the murders, that they argued could demonstrate that their father abused them sexually, physically, and emotionally. The brothers claimed that they killed their parents because they thought they would be killed that night and that they were acting in self-defense. dispute over the request for a resentencing Weeks after that, new evidence was submitted, and shortly before the November election, then-Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón requested the resentencing.  However, he lost reelection to current District Attorney Nathan Hochman.                                                                                                                                                              Last month, Hochman announced he was filing a motion to withdraw Gascón’s resentencing request for the brothers. Hochman cited reasons for withdrawing the request, arguing the brothers were lying about why they killed their parents.

“In looking at whether the Menendez brothers have exhibited full insight and complete responsibility for their crimes, they have not. They don’t meet the standards for resentencing. They don’t meet the standards for rehabilitation,” Hochman said, adding that the brothers needed to come clean and take full responsibility for their criminal actions.

judge rejects motion to withdraw request

Judge Michael Jesic handed the brothers a win on Friday and ruled against Hochman, allowing their resentencing hearings to proceed.

The brothers’ lawyer, Mark Geragos, reacted to the judge’s decision outside the courtroom Friday afternoon.

“I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but today is a good day. Justice — justice won over politics. It’s been a long time coming. For anybody who was in the courtroom, it was very difficult to sit and listen to what we witnessed, and we are obviously very thankful to the judge.”

Geragos added, “I couldn’t be prouder of representing this family. They’ve waited a long time to get some justice. And today was actually probably the biggest day since they’ve been in custody.”