Menendez brothers’ juror claims ‘outcome would have been very different’ today

A juror on the trial of the Menendez brothers believes today’s more educated and aware world could have saved them – after it was announced on Thursday New evidence supporting couple’s claims of sexual abuse will be reviewed 30 years later he was found guilty of the murder of his parents.

“If they were tried again, I think the outcome would be very different because people know more these days, people understand more these days,” said Hazel Thornton, a juror in the first trial of Lyle and Eric Menendez. Told NewsNation’s “Banfield.”

The Menendez brothers claimed they acted in self-defense after years of sexual abuse by their parents, Jose and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez, when he shot them in their Beverly Hills home in 1989 — but Thornton Said the jurors didn’t do that. Don’t buy it.

“But the men in the room, it was a classic battle of the sexes. Those who did not believe that Jose was abusing his sons, Thornton, author of the bookHung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Jury“Guest host Laura Ingle explained.

Prosecutor Lester Kuriyama also brought up the idea in his closing arguments that Eric was gay, which Thornton said the male component of the jury may also have used against the defendants while deliberating.

“There was no evidence to support it. “It was just Lester’s theory that he rejected in closing arguments, and the men ran away with it and never went back and acknowledged the fact that they may have been abused,” she continued.

Thornton hopes to get a conviction for the brothers – who were convicted in 1996 – and no new trial.

“I hope they will not be tried again. I hope they’re just angry because I think a new trial would cost millions of dollars and make everyone tired for no good reason.