Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman stated that he does not support the resentencing of Lyle and Erik Menendez.
He said the Menendez brothers have repeatedly lied about their motive for killing their parents in 1989.
The big picture: Hochman cited the lack of “insight and complete responsibility” from the brothers regarding the lies told during their original trial, particularly their initial claim that they did not murder their parents and their subsequent argument of self-defense, which contradicts the case’s evidence of deliberate planning to make the killings appear as a gang hit.
- Expressing dissatisfaction with the brothers’ three-decade history of dishonesty, Hochman indicated that he would be open to supporting resentencing in the future if the brothers were to confess and acknowledge their fabrications.
What we’re watching: A resentencing hearing has been scheduled for later in March, and Hochman implied that the court might proceed with it pending additional developments.
Zoom in; Hochman, who assumed office in December, also voiced his opposition to a new trial for the Menendez brothers, who were convicted in 1996 and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
- Former District Attorney George Gascón had recommended resentencing the brothers to 50 years to life, a move that Hochman criticized as a “desperate political move.”
- Despite support from much of their extended family and emerging evidence of sexual abuse by their father, the brothers, now in their 50s, continued to seek parole, with California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordering a parole board investigation into the potential risk posed by their release.
- In addition to the parole route, the brothers have also requested clemency from Governor Newsom, who deferred any decisions pending Hochman’s case review.
