For those who were worried that Eric and Lyle Menendez would enter into a sweetheart deal, rest assured.
A month ago, the brothers convicted of murdering their parents Kitty and Jose Menendez in 1989 appeared to be on the verge of release after receiving recidivism recommendations.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón at the time seemed committed to their release.
His successor, Nathan Hockman, who took office on December 3, appears to be taking a more cautious approach.
As highlighted in the recent Netflix series “The Menendez Brothers,” the brothers claim they were sexually abused by their father, but their lawyers say that was not taken into account during the trial and will be part of the sentencing review. argues that it should be considered as such.
However, a lawyer for the Menedez family said that Hockman has so far only met the brothers' uncle, Milton Anderson, and that Hockman is one of the people the brothers think should remain in prison.
Asked if that was an early sign of bad news, family lawyer Brian Friedman told the Post: “Absolutely.”
Mr. Friedman also denied reports that Mr. Hochman invited members of Lyle and Eric's families who support their release to speak with him.
Friedman wrote in an email to Hochman: [that is what he calls the 20 family members he represents] This was the person who knew Lyle and Eric best during their previous 30 years of incarceration.
“You talked to the only family member that Eric and Lyle haven't had contact with in the last 30 years,” she said, referring to Kitty's younger brother Anderson.
During the trial, the brothers admitted to killing Kitty and her father with a shotgun.
Anderson's attorney, Kathy Cady, said earlier this year: [the Menendez brothers] He remains in prison because he believes that justice demands it. ”
Mr. Friedman is also concerned that Mr. Hochman has fired two officials in the prosecutor's office who were leading the effort to free the Menendez brothers.
Nancy Teberge, the former head of Gascon's counterclaims unit, has been transferred to the Office of the Assistant Public Defender.
Brock Lunsford was moved from the post-conviction unit but remains in the prosecutor's office. By variety.
“They have filed a counterclaim on behalf of Mr. Gascon,” Friedman said, referring to a 57-page document asserting that the brothers were eligible for immediate parole.
“[Hochman] I took them out of there. Once you're removed from the office, I don't think you'll ever come back. ”
Asked what that says about Hochman, Friedman replied, “It says either that he's incredibly inexperienced or that he's very political.”
In a preview for “NBC Nightly News” with Lester Holt, Hockman discussed the Menendez brothers' situation.
“They're called the Menendez brothers, but there's the Eric Menendez case and the Lyle Menendez case. So we look at each case individually and that's really how it should be handled.”
Gascón went beyond his own recommendation for the brothers and petitioned California Governor Gavin Newsom to grant them clemency.
Mr. Newsom was less proactive, saying, “I'm postponing the review of the next Democratic Congressman,'' referring to Mr. Hochman.
In November, California Superior Court Judge Jessick said he would postpone a hearing on the brothers' future until the end of January so he could get input from Hochman's office.
