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L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón is poised to make a significant announcement regarding the possible release of brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez from prison, with a live stream of the event scheduled.
Gascón’s announcement could follow one of two paths: he may either recommend that a judge resentence the Menendez brothers to time served or propose a reduction of their murder convictions to voluntary manslaughter.
In California, the maximum sentence for voluntary manslaughter is 11 years. Given that Erik and Lyle Menendez have already served close to 35 years, a switch to voluntary manslaughter could result in their immediate release if a judge agrees.
This upcoming news conference is particularly significant following Gascón’s earlier decision to reevaluate the case. This reevaluation was prompted by new evidence, including a letter written by Erik to his cousin Andy Cano months prior to the murders, where he described ongoing sexual abuse by their father, José.
The case gained further attention after claims made by former Menudo member Roy Rosselló, who alleged he was sexually abused by José. Such allegations correspond with what Erik and Lyle presented during their first trial, which ultimately resulted in a hung jury. However, they were barred from introducing these claims during their subsequent retrial.
In 1996, both brothers received life sentences without the possibility of parole for the shotgun murders of their parents in 1989. Their next court appearance is scheduled for November 26, just two days before Thanksgiving, a time when their family hopes they can be present.
Recently, over 20 family members from both sides gathered at a press conference to voice their support for the brothers’ release. Conversely, a reporter who extensively covered the initial trial expressed his belief that the brothers should remain in prison for life.
In addition to family support, several high-profile individuals, including Rosie O’Donnell, Kim Kardashian, and actor Cooper Koch, who portrayed Erik in the Netflix series ‘Monsters’, have publicly advocated for the Menendez brothers’ release.
Source
www.tmz.com