Los Angeles – Whether Eric and Lyle Menendez will see life outside the prison wall is still unknown after their res court hearing was postponed after the judge ruled that two moves must be resolved before the process advances.
At the heart of the issue was allegations that Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochmann’s allegations continued to cite access to some of the Comprehensive Risk Assessment (CRA) report, in which California Gov. Gavin Newsom requested Clemency and Menendez Team requests to be approved to show photos of crime scenes with hearing impairment.
The lawyer and Judge Michael Jessick will meet on May 9th to discuss the next steps after the planned two-day resentment is cancelled.
The court was suspended for a short break Thursday as JESIC had to clear up the confusion and address frustration over the CRA report.
Menendez Brothers Response: Los Angeles DA seeks delays before high stakes hearing
Lyle Menendez on the left and his brother Eric were photographed in the latest CDCR mugshot, taken on October 10, 2024. (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation)
The report determines whether the brother poses a threat to the public if he is released. It was provided to the prosecutor, and the judge was informed that he could read it before the scheduled hearing.
“Completing a comprehensive risk assessment is a significant development in this case,” Hochman said. “It is important that JESIC JESIC have sufficient time to thoroughly review their findings and make an informed decision on its acceptability before any potential hearings move forward.”
“Decisions of this magnitude require the latest and comprehensive information available. These updated, comprehensive risk assessments provide important insight into whether prisoners pose unfair risks to today’s public safety.”
The judge said he wanted to move forward with the witness’s testimony, but his brother’s lawyer, Mark Jelagos, insisted that he would not move forward unless the judge chose to rule out the report. Jelagos requested a continuation to make time to file a motion to reject the DA, adding that he would have already done so if there were no time requirements to submit such motions.
The report was not shared with the defense, but Geragos argued that it was unfair.
Brother Menendez’s family accused the DA of violating the Victim Protection Act after showing graphic photos in court
Jesic said he received clarity from Newsom’s office that he does not claim privilege in a comprehensive risk assessment. Giragos said he would file a motion to reject the DA from the case within 10 days, as these results could occur.
Geragos argued that he is not a party to the generous procedure in which the report is involved, saying, “They continue to mix and match.”
Recusal motion requires that individuals be away from the case as it prevents potential conflicts of interest or bias from working fairly.
During the May 9 hearing, the parties will first address the claim of denial and then address whether a risk assessment is acceptable in court. Due to the personal nature of the report, some of it may be in closed courts, the judge said. They also have not conducted hearings that day, so testimony is not expected.
Menendez Brothers’ aunt was hospitalized after DA shared a graphic photo in court: “There was no warning.”
Brothers Menendez, left, and Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman, right. (Getty Images)
Menendez’s legal team chose not to proceed with testimony on Thursday at restinsing.
Rather than having to retaliate about whether the DA team has been removed, the “retraumatization” of coming back again for testimony “is less of two evils,” said Brian Friedman, another attorney for the brother.
Jessick revealed that one of his main concerns is that every trip and other expenses that the family will take off and compete in this week’s hearing is time. The defense team said the family understood despite some trips.
“I don’t want to continue retroactively with my family,” Geragos said. “I’ll leave it to the DA.”
When this unfolded, both brothers listened well. Eric nodded, looking visibly annoyed as the judges listed what they had planned for the May 9th hearing.
Follow X’s Fox True Crime Team
Friends and supporters of the Menendez brothers will leave the Superior Court on Friday, April 11, 2025 at Vannuis, California. The brothers had today’s hearing on the possible responsiveness of their parents’ murder. (Fox News Digital Mega)
The judge refused to be advised that Menendez’s team had shown pictures of the crime, but asked both sides to provide warnings.
“It’s very rare…where you’re a victim who supports the victim,” Jesic said. “When the photos came up, I didn’t even think about it.”
“It was a horrifying murder,” he continued. “If someone is uncomfortable, they might not be here.”
Jessick also reminded the prosecution that they were not there to retrieve the case. Deputy District Attorney Habib Varian had insisted that he needed to show the photos.
“We need to understand that Eric and Lyle Menendez caused that massacre,” he said.
Geragos denounced the prosecution’s tactics as “a dog and pony show,” saying, “If this weren’t the Menendez brothers, none of these shenanigans would have happened.”
“His personal bias has been eradicated in every action taken,” Friedman said of Hochman’s intentions. Friedman added that many Menendez families have never seen images of crime scenes.
The judge then defended Varian, who had known him for years and believed that he had no malicious intentions to show the photos, but admitted that the situation was complicated.
Sign up to get True Crime Newsletter
Deputy District Attorney Habib Varian will address the court on Friday, April 11, 2025, in front of a photograph of the Menendez family on display on screens at Van Nuiss, California. (Bill Robles)
Varian also shared the image, saying, “It was never my intention,” and apologised, saying that someone had ended up in the hospital after seeing the image.
The brothers’ lawyers and their families held a press conference following the conclusion of the suspension hearing on Thursday.
“My family doesn’t want to pass through this charade in DA anymore,” Geragos said. “This is a DA who made his heart and didn’t put any effort into his position. He’s not interested in anyone.”
Tamara Goodall, cousin of Eric and Lyle, also spoke about his disappointment with the media and the results on Thursday.
“It was very clear that Hochman had no desire to come objectively to this. He made a statement. I am referring to all of the horrible and terrifying people who have no quotes representing Mark.
“Unfortunately, this family has no secrets. This family doesn’t have a floor for how much trauma they have to go through,” Jelagos said.
When asked how Lyle and Eric were receiving the news, Geragos said they were “cautiously optimistic.”
Look at Fox Nation: Brothers Menendez: Are they victims or villains?
“When we have a reexamination hearing, there are many reasons why we believe that JESIC judges will reduce this to manslaughter charges and release them on time,” Geragos explained. “That’s the goal here. The goal is not to make this happen from 50, as I said in the courtroom, and turn this into a parole hearing. The goal here is very simple.”
Get real-time updates directly True Crime Hub
Hochman’s office said it was “aware of the defense’s concerns and welcomes the opportunity to deal with them in court.”
“Our office remains committed to ethical and impartial prosecution, and we believe the facts demonstrate that our actions are professional, appropriate and in the interests of justice,” Hochman said.
He also thanked the teams of prosecutors, Varian and deputy district attorneys Seth Carmack and Ethan Milius.
Click here to get the Fox News app
“They show extraordinary dedication and professionalism throughout this process, and their work continues to honor the memories of Jose and Kitty Menendez,” Hochmann said.
Hochman previously criticized the decision to “stablish stubbornly stubbornly stay hidden in a bunker of lies, deceit and denials over the age of 30.”
Menendez’s brothers and their supporters had sought a hearing, saying that the brothers had unfairly convicted their prison lives in 1996 for killing two parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. Beverly Hills Home in 1989.
Their first trial ended with cheating when the ju judges failed to agree with their fate. After the second trial in the mid-1990s Suspicion of sexual abuse Excluded, the ju judge agreed to the prosecutor that their motive was greedy.
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and Michael Ruiz of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, murder, national crime cases, illegal immigration and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com
