The new Los Angeles County district attorney met with the Menendez brothers' family as they continue to review their efforts to seek freedom 35 years after they were convicted of killing their parents.
Nathan Hockman, who took office in December, said Friday that he had “productive conversations” with the families and shared their views on whether the brothers should be released.
The meeting lasted about three hours.
Brothers Lyle and Eric Menendez were convicted of murdering Jose and Kitty Menendez in 1989 and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Now in their 50s, they began campaigning for freedom in recent years after new evidence of their father's sexual abuse came to light in their case.
Their lawyers filed a writ of habeas corpus (a petition asking a court to investigate whether someone is being lawfully detained) in May 2023, asking a judge to consider the evidence.
The brothers have the support of most of their extended family and say they deserve to be released after decades in prison.
Several family members said that in today's world, where the effects of sexual abuse are more recognized, the brothers would not have been convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.
In October 2024, then-District Attorney George Gascon recommended the brothers be sentenced to 50 years to life, with immediate parole eligibility.
Hochman, who was running against Gascón, called it a “desperate political move.”
“By announcing now, Mr. Gascón has cast a cloud over the fairness and impartiality of his decision,” he said at the time.
The judge postponed the brothers' retrial, originally scheduled for early December, to the end of January.
Superior Court Judge Michael Jessick said he needed time to consider the extensive evidence and give Hochman time to consider the case.
Hochman said Friday that he was still reviewing thousands of pages of prison records to “analyze the rehabilitation aspects of re-sentencing.”
Evidence of rehabilitation could include not engaging in illegal activities while in prison, starting an organization that helps other prisoners, and using the time to better oneself, he said. said.
At the brothers' first trial, their defense attorneys claimed they had been sexually abused by their father.
Prosecutors denied this and accused him of killing his parents for money.
Over the next few years, they repeatedly appealed for their beliefs without success.
The brothers are being held at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego.
