A Los Angeles County judge has denied District Attorney Nathan Hochman’s attempt to block resentencing hearings for Erik and Lyle Menendez, clearing the path for proceedings that could lead to their potential release. The brothers, convicted in 1996 for the 1989 shotgun killings of their parents, have spent over three decades in prison while maintaining their actions were in self-defense after enduring lifelong abuse.
The court rejected Hochman’s argument that the brothers remain dangerous and unrepentant, with Judge Michael Jesic allowing the resentencing process to proceed under a 2021 California law permitting parole reconsideration for offenders convicted under age 26. Prosecutors presented graphic crime scene photos and accused the Menendez brothers of fabricating abuse claims, while defense attorneys highlighted new evidence of sexual abuse by their father Jose Menendez.
Criminal defense attorney Mark Eiglarsh, analyzing the case on Fox News, suggested the ruling indicates the brothers could eventually secure freedom through either resentencing or Governor Gavin Newsom’s ongoing clemency review. Their legal team argues the men have demonstrated rehabilitation during incarceration, with relatives testifying to their transformed character.
Hochman vowed to continue opposing release, calling the murders “calculated, premeditated, cold-blooded killings”. The resentencing hearing begins April 17, with a clemency decision expected after June 13. The case remains divisive, blending legal arguments about juvenile sentencing reforms with unresolved questions about the brothers’ credibility and the limits of self-defense claims.
