whoever was afraid of eric and lyle menendez getting a sweet deal Can rest easily.
A month earlier, two brothers convicted of murdering their parents Kitty and Jose Menendez in 1989 were on the verge of acquittal after their cases were recommended for re-sentencing.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney at the time, George Gascón, was seen leaving full steam ahead Upon freeing them.
his replacement, nathan hochmanHe, who took office on December 3, appears more cautious.
As highlighted in the recent Netflix series, “The Menendez Brothers,” the brothers claim that their father sexually abused them and their lawyers argue that this was ignored during their trial and that Should be part of the review of his sentence.
However, an attorney for the Menendez family says Hochman has so far only met with the brothers’ uncle, Milton Anderson, and he is one of those who believes they should remain in prison.
Asked if this was a bad early sign, the family’s attorney Brian Friedman told The Post: “It absolutely is.”
Friedman has also denied those reports, with Hochman inviting family members who are supportive of Lyle and Eric’s release to speak to him.
In an email to Hochman, Friedman wrote, “I thought you might want to meet the victims (he calls the 20 family members he represents) who best described Lyle and Eric during their last 30 years of captivity. Kind of knew.
“You talked to a family member who hadn’t interacted with Eric and Lyle in the last 30 years,” he said, referring to Kitty’s brother Anderson.
The brothers admitted during the trial that they murdered Kitty and her father with a gun.
“He wants (the Menendez brothers) to remain in prison because he believes that’s what justice requires,” Anderson’s attorney, Kathy Cady, said earlier this year.
Friedman is also concerned two members of the DA’s office who were leading the effort to free the Menendez brothers have been fired by Hochman.
Nancy Theberge, the previous head of Gascón’s resentencing unit, has been transferred to the office of alternate public defender.
Brock Lunsford has been moved out of the post-conviction unit, but remains in the DA’s office, per variety,
“He petitioned for sentencing on Gascón’s behalf,” Friedman said, referring to the 57-page document that argued the brothers should be immediately eligible for parole.
“(Hochman) took them out of it. I don’t think he will be brought back after leaving the office.
Asked what this tells him about Hochman, Friedman responded, “It tells me he’s either incredibly naive or very politically minded.”
In a preview of “NBC Nightly News” with Lester Holt, Hochman discussed the Menendez brothers’ situation.
“Even though they’re called the Menendez brothers,” he said, “there’s an Eric Menendez case and a Lyle Menendez case. So we’ll look at each case separately, the way they should really be handled.
Gascón, beyond his recommendations for the brothers, also petitioned California Governor Gavin Newsom to grant clemency to the brothers.
Newsom said he would “postpone the review of the DA-election”, referring to Hochman.
In November, California Superior Court Judge Jesic said he was postponing a hearing on the brothers’ future until late January so he could get input from Hochman’s office.
(Tags to translate) US News (T) District Attorney (T) Eric Menendez (T) Lyle Menendez (T) Murders
