UPDATE 2/25 —–
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced on Friday, Feb. 21, an informal response to Lyle and Erik’s habeas petition in 2023.
The petition submitted by the brothers’ attorneys asked for a new trial due to new evidence: a letter written by Erik to his cousin Andy about the alleged abuse and additional abuse allegations from Roy Rossello, member of the Latin boy band “Menudo” in the 1980s.
Rossello claimed José Menendez abused him on multiple occasions while “Menudo” was signed under RCA, a record label where José worked as an executive.
“In short, the new evidence not only shows that José Menendez was very much a violent and brutal man who would sexually abuse children, but it strongly suggests that – in fact – he was still abusing Erik Menendez as late as December 1988. Just as the defense had argued all along,” the petition said.
The 87-page informal response says the presented evidence doesn’t reveal any new information or findings in the case.
“The ‘new evidence’ submitted by Petitioners – an undated copy of a letter from Erik Menendez to his cousin Andy Cano and a declaration from Roy Rossello – provides no additional evidence at all concerning this key issue at trial about self-defense and Petitioners’ mental state the night of Aug. 20, 1989, when they executed and shotgunned their parents over 12 times to their deaths,” the response reads. “Petitioners’ claims in this habeas petition are not new.”
In addition to the informal response, the DA office also provided the public with a video explaining the case from a legal perspective entitled, “The Anatomy of The Menendez Case.”
There are also information exhibits on specific aspects of the case available for viewing.
Both of these resources aim to educate the public on the case, Hochman said.
“Transparency and public education are essential to ensuring confidence in our justice system, and I encourage the public to utilize these resources to better understand the legal process,” he said.
ORIGINAL STORY —–
Lyle and Erik Menendez were sentenced to life in prison for the 1989 murders of their parents José and Kitty. Nearly 30 years later, the infamous pair is now set to enter the courtroom in late March after their original January date was rescheduled due to raging wildfires in California.
Lyle (57) and Erik (54) have both been incarcerated in the California Department of Corrections since 1996. The brothers have maintained claims of abuse from their parents throughout their trials and prison sentences.
The case gained new, loud attention with the Netflix documentary, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” that came out in September 2024. The series offered audiences a dramatized retelling of the brothers’ crimes.
One month later, George Gascón, former Los Angeles County district attorney, recommended the brothers be resentenced.
“Since the original prosecution of the Menendez brothers more than nearly three decades ago, our office has gained a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding sexual violence,” Gascón said during the October 2024 press conference. “We recognize that it is a widespread issue impacting individuals of all gender identities, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to support all victims as they navigate the long-lasting effects of such trauma.”
This led to a court hearing scheduled for Jan. 30 and 31, which was then pushed back due to major wildfires in the region.
Newly elected DA Nathan Hochman moved the hearing back in order to properly prepare for the historic dates.
“The extension is due to the impact of the recent wildfires on the extensive preparations required for the hearings,” his office said in a statement.
The hearing will take place on March 20 and 21 at the Van Nuys Courthouse in LA County. It will begin at 8:30 a.m. on both dates.
Sarah Davis can be contacted at [email protected].
