Menendez Case: D.A. Withdraws Request to Reduce Brothers’ Sentence
variety.comGene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman said Monday that his office will withdraw its request to reduce the sentences of Lyle and Erik Menendez, saying the brothers have not shown full insight into their crimes.
The brothers are serving life without parole for the 1989 murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. At a press conference Monday morning, Hochman said that the brothers have failed to acknowledge that their claim of self defense was “fabricated,” and thus have not taken responsibility for the crimes.
The D.A.’s office filed an 88-page motion seeking court approval to withdraw the resentencing request. Last October, District Attorney George Gascón came out in favor of reducing their sentences to 50 years to life, which would make them eligible for parole immediately.
Gascón, a criminal justice reformer, found that the brothers had been rehabilitated after 35 years behind bars. The Menendez family has argued that new evidence supports the claim that the brothers were sexually abused by their father, and that attitudes about abuse have evolved over the last three decades.
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