New evidence in 1996 Menendez brothers murder case to be reviewed

Prosecutors in Los Angeles are reviewing new evidence in the case of the Menendez brothers, who were convicted of murdering their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion more than 35 years ago, the city’s district attorney said Thursday.

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said during a news conference that lawyers for Erik Menendez, 53, and his brother Lyle Menendez, 56, had asked the court to overturn the conviction.

Gascón said there is no doubt the brothers committed the murders, but his office will review the new evidence and decide whether it warrants overturning the conviction. The hearing was scheduled for November 29.

New evidence presented in the petition includes a letter written by Erik Menendez that his lawyers say corroborates allegations that he was sexually abused by his father. Gascón said he thought the topic of sexual assault would have been handled more sensitively if the case had taken place today.

Gascón said his office hasn’t made any decisions yet and doesn’t know the “validity” of what was presented at the hearing.

“We will evaluate all this,” he said.

Gascón, who is seeking re-election, noted that more than 300 people have been punished during his term and only four have reoffended.

Mark Geragos and Cliff Gardner, lawyers for the Menendez brothers, did not immediately respond Thursday to emails seeking comment on Gascón’s statement.

The case has gained new attention in recent weeks when Netflix began streaming the Ryan Murphy series Monsters: The Story of Lyle and Erik Menendez. Following the backlash against Murphy’s series, the streamer announced: The Menendez brothers The documentary will hit the streamer on October 7.

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The brothers were sentenced to life in prison for fatally shooting their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in 1989.

Lyle, who was 21 at the time, and Erik, then 18, admitted that they fatally shot their entertainment executive father and mother, but feared that their parents would kill them to prevent Erik’s father from revealing long-term sexual abuse.

The prosecutor’s office said there was no evidence of harassment. They said that the sons care about their parents’ multi-million fortune.

The jury rejected a death sentence in favor of life in prison without parole.