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Los Angeles County D.A.
Apologizes to Menendez Family Over Crime Scene Photos
Nonetheless, Hearings Aim to Reveal the Truth
Published April 13, 2025 6:00 PM PDT
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has expressed regret to the Menendez family for not informing them in advance that crime scene photographs would be displayed during a recent court hearing. They assert, however, that the decision to present these images was made in the interest of transparency.
In a statement provided to TMZ, the D.A.’s Office acknowledged the distressing nature of the images and clarified that there was no intention to cause emotional pain to the family. They emphasized the hearings serve as a platform to uncover the truth, even if it comes with pain, and felt the crime scene photos were necessary to illustrate the severity of the crime.
They also noted that the Menendez brothers’ clemency request played a role in the emotional climate surrounding the hearing, as it rekindled feelings related to a case that had remained inactive legally for over 18 years.
According to the D.A.’s office, prior motions filed by prosecutors have detailed the brutal killings of Jose and Kitty Menendez, including the fact that their sons were involved in the shooting that resulted in 13 close-range shots from a shotgun, alongside other harrowing specifics.
Moving forward, the D.A.’s office stated, “We apologize for any distress caused by the photographic representation of these events to the Menendez family members who attended the hearing, particularly for not providing forewarning about both the verbal and visual graphic descriptions of the incident.”
The D.A. further defended the actions of District Attorney Nathan Hochman, highlighting his commitment to the Menendez family. Hochman met with over two dozen family members for an extended three-hour discussion—an undertaking they claim has not been conducted by any previous D.A. in over thirty years.
The statement concluded with a cautionary message encouraging attendees of the hearing to brace themselves for potentially upsetting details and images associated with the tragic case.
The release did not directly address allegations that the display of crime scene photographs during the resentencing hearing had a detrimental impact on Terry Baralt, the 85-year-old aunt of the Menendez brothers, who was reportedly found unresponsive in her hotel room afterward. The family believes her critical condition stemmed from the stress of the trial, particularly concerning the graphic nature of the images shown.
Bryan Freedman, the attorney representing the Menendez family, criticized the prosecutors for their decision to present these images, labeling it a “despicable action” that contradicts Marsy’s Law, which mandates compassion towards victims. His sentiments were echoed by Mark Geragos, the attorney for Erik and Lyle, who made similar remarks during a news conference following a judge’s decision to grant a resentencing hearing for the brothers next week.
As of now, attempts to reach Freedman and Geragos for their perspectives on the D.A.’s apology have not yielded any responses.
Source
www.tmz.com