A California judge has denied a request for a new trial for brothers Eric and Lyle Menendez, further diminishing their chances of freedom after decades in prison for murdering their parents in 1989 at their Beverly Hills home.
This decision, made on Monday by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge William C. Ryan, came shortly after the brothers had their parole requests turned down.
The judge dismissed a petition filed in May 2023 that aimed to re-examine their convictions based on new evidence alleging that their father sexually abused them.
In his ruling, Judge Ryan noted that while the new evidence “slightly supports” the claims of abuse, it does not negate the fact that they acted with “assumptions and deliberations” during the murders.
He considered the evidence to be not persuasive enough to instill reasonable doubt in any juror or substantiate a claim of self-defense.
Mark Jelagos, the brothers’ attorney, did not respond immediately to the decision.
On August 21, Eric Menendez was also denied parole, with officials indicating that his past conduct in prison put public safety at risk.
Similarly, Lyle Menendez faced a three-year denial of parole after a hearing on August 22, with the commissioner mentioning that he still shows signs of antisocial traits, like deception and rule-breaking, despite some positive behavior.
Both brothers were sentenced to life imprisonment in 1996 for fatally shooting their father, Jose, and mother, Kitty, almost 36 years ago. They claimed self-defense after alleged years of abuse, but prosecutors argued that their motive was financial gain from an inheritance.
The judge had recently reduced their sentence, allowing them to qualify for parole, marking a significant moment in their legal journey since their convictions nearly three decades ago.
