Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced Monday that his office will move to block the resentencing of convicted brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez, rejecting their long-standing claims of self-defense based on alleged sexual abuse.
Hochman stated that his office is requesting the court to withdraw a motion for resentencing previously filed by his predecessor, George Gascón, who had been advocating for reduced sentences in controversial cases. Hochman, however, is taking a hardline stance, calling the brothers’ justification for killing their parents nothing more than fabricated “lies.”
“We are prepared to go forward with the hearing regarding their resentencing case,” Hochman said. “However, we are asking the court to withdraw the previous district attorney’s motion for resentencing, because we believe the interests of justice justify that withdrawal.”
The Menendez brothers were convicted of first-degree murder in 1996 after they brutally shot and killed their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989. During their trial, they claimed they acted out of fear after enduring years of sexual and physical abuse from their father. The prosecution, however, painted them as cold-blooded killers motivated by greed.
In February, the Menendez brothers’ defense team presented new evidence that allegedly supported their claims of abuse. However, Hochman expressed strong skepticism about the validity of that evidence and questioned its relevance to the case.
The defense is pushing for a sentence reduction, which could make the brothers eligible for parole or early release. Hochman’s motion to block resentencing signals a return to enforcing tough-on-crime policies, ensuring that convicted murderers remain behind bars where they belong.
The Menendez brothers have already served over 30 years in prison, but Hochman made it clear that justice for their parents should not be undermined by baseless abuse allegations. The court will now decide whether to proceed with resentencing or uphold the brothers’ life sentences without the possibility of parole.
