Lyle and Erik Menendez murdered their father in August 1989 after suffering years of abuse. The Menendez brothers were charged with first-degree murder and are currently still serving their sentence in California. However, a remarkable discovery could lead to their freedom and end their days in captivity.
Background
The Menendez brothers are two well-known siblings after the killing of their father, Jose Menendez. The two killed their father after suffering years of abuse which mainly entailed physical and sexual abuse of the boys. The two received the charges of first-degree murder which enraged the public due to the circumstances. Many say this was an act of self-defense or even go as far as to say that Jose deserved to die.
Jose Menendez was also sexually assaulting other boys in the addition of his children. The other boys were often friends of the Menendez brothers and suffered great psychological trauma from the ordeal.
The Letter
When facing trial, the Menendez brothers claimed self-defense out of fear. They attempted this with two different juries both coming back inconclusive. This ultimately led to a court decision on their sentence.
New evidence came into play that caught the attention of the brothers’ lawyer. The evidence collected is a letter written from one of the brothers to their cousin discussing the abuse occurring. The attorney stated if the letter was presented as original evidence it would result in a manslaughter charge instead of first-degree muder which would be a much shorter sentence and release the Menendez brothers since they would have already served the appropriate time.
Next Steps
The Menendez brother’s attorney will be presenting the newly acquired evidence in front of a judge to determine following proceedings regarding the Menendez brothers. Since the letter was leaked, someone from an old boy band spoke up and stated he was too a victim of Jose Menendez. With all the new information it is still undecided whether or not the case will be re-tried. If the evidence is great enough it is likely a whole another trial will be required to free the Menendez brothers.
The Public Opinion
From the start the public has been adamant on the release of the Menendez brothers. The case is still quite popular due to its unique circumstances. It is likely that the resurfacing of the case will cause an uproar. Many feel strongly about the situation and feel if it was tried again in more current times the Menendez brothers would win.
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