In a motion packed high profile case of Menendez brothers; Lyle and Erik Menendez killed their parents by shooting them multiple times at their mansion in Beverly Hills, in 1989. The two brothers had accused their parents of emotional, sexual and physical abuse, a murder they attributed to self-defence, and at some point felt that their parents will kill then due to the fact that they will expose them. However, they were found guilty and convicted in 1996 for a first degree murder and conspiracy to murder, and sentenced to life imprisonment without option of parole. The case has continued to garner public interest and has been turned into Netflix drama, Monsters: Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
Menendez brothers killed their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, on 20 August 1989 at their home in Beverly Hills, with a shotgun the brothers had purchased days before the attack, their father was Hollywood executive. They initially told police they found their parents lifeless when they arrived home. When the trial started they were unable to prove facts they relied upon as the reasons for their actions, however, the prosecutor had alleged that Menendez brothers killed their parents who were successful to inherit their multi-million-dollar estate, at their conviction, it was suggested they stay in a separate prison to avoid a plan to escape, which they did until 2018.
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There is monumental twist to their conviction, as the resentencing carries the invincible weight of the trial. Judge Michael Jesic, on Tuesday, after hearing evidence from relatives and prison staff about their intentions to make amends while behind the bars, resentenced Menendez brothers, after 30 years in prison which make them eligible for parole- a conditional release of a prisoner before the end of sentence. They were resentenced from life imprisonment to 50 years imprisonment with possibility of parole. Lyle and Erik Menendez were 18 and 21 years of age respectively when they committed the crime, they are now 54 and 57 years of age respectively. Both brothers had apologised for their crime and has pledged for opportunity to make amends.
While their release might be imminent, their relatives have shared greater percentage of this whole trial and they have carried this weight on their shoulder, between the dead couple and brothers who have spent 30 years in prison, the guilt is on a thin line, which seemed to have tilt towards the side of the brothers, thoughts, mental torture and emotional trauma have taken the central stage. Erik Menendez in his emotional tune apologised to the relatives “I lied to you and forced you into a spotlight of public humiliation”. One of the relatives has recounted about the process which she termed “nightmare” and desperate for it to end.
