- Title: Menendez brothers' family and supporters rally for release in Los Angeles
- Date: 20th March 2025
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (MARCH 20, 2025)(REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS AND SIGNAGE IN SUPPORT OF MENENDEZ BROTHERS OUTSIDE OF HALL OF JUSTICE (SOUNDBITE)(English) ANAMARIA BARALT, COUSIN OF ERIK AND LYLE MENENDEZ, SAYING: "It means the world to me, to our family, and to every single person who believes in fairness, justice and rehabilitation." (SOUNDBITE)(E
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: DISTRICT ATTORNEY ERIK AND LYLE MENENDEZ FAMILY MENENDEZ BROTHERS NATHAN HOCHMAN RALLY RESENTENCING SUPPORTERS
- Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- City: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- Country: US
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Judicial Process/Court Cases/Court Decisions,North America
- Reuters ID: LVA001045120032025RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The Justice for Erik and Lyle Coalition, a family-led initiative advocating for Erik and Lyle Menendez’s release, held a rally and news conference outside of District Attorney Nathan Hochman’s office in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday (March 20).
On March 10, Hochman said Lyle and Erik Menendez must fully acknowledge lies they told about the shotgun murder of their parents 35 years ago before he would support their release from prison.
"If the district attorney Hochman wants to make this a political issue, we are going to make sure the world is watching because we are not backing down." said Erik and Lyle Menendez's cousin Anamaria Baralt during the news conference. "We will not let him erase their abuse. We will not let him ignore the transformation and we will not let him silence this family."
The Menendez brothers were convicted in 1996 of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for shooting their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, at their Beverly Hills home on August 20, 1989.
During the rally, a few dozen people marched along the block outside of the Hall of Justice chanting 'We want justice, who do we want it for, Erik and Lyle' repeatedly for an hour before dispersing.
One supporter voiced her belief that the brothers should be released after decades of incarceration
"They are not the same man they were when they were 18 and 21 years old. They went through a lifetime of horrific abuse and they acted in imperfect self-defense. And they have apologized for their crimes. And they have shown that they are remorseful and they have done everything to prove that they are not threats to society." said Jules Simms, 25, visiting Los Angeles from Florida.
She added "They never have been threats to society. They deserve a second chance. They deserve to get out. 35 years is too long. Life without parole shouldn't have been the case. They should have gotten a manslaughter charge. They deserve freedom."
The case captivated the U.S. in the 1990s because of the brothers' wealth and privilege as sons of a record company and entertainment industry executive. Lyle was 21 and Erik was 18 years old at the time of the murders. They are now 57 and 54.
A recent Netflix documentary series raised new evidence to support their claims they were sexually abused by their parents, which led the previous district attorney, George Gascon, to advocate resentencing them to a lesser crime and releasing them.
Hochman said he is prepared to go forward with a resentencing hearing scheduled for March 20-21 but will ask the judge to withdraw Gascon's request for resentencing.
(Production: Sandra Stojanovic; Matt M. McKnight) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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