Los Angeles District Attorney Opposes New Sentencing for Menéndez Brothers

• Menéndez brothers’ sentencing under review.
• District Attorney files motion against resentencing.
• Nation still shocked by the 1989 murders.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has formally requested the withdrawal of a motion that sought to reconsider the sentencing of Erik and Lyle Menéndez.

The brothers were sentenced to life in prison in 1996 for the murder of their parents, José and Kitty Menéndez.

According to Hochman, the brothers have failed to fully accept responsibility for their crimes.

And they have continued to lie about their self-defense claims for the past 30 years.

Menéndez Brothers’ Legal Battle

«They have continued to falsely claim that they feared for their lives on the night of August 20, 1989,» the District Attorney’s Office stated.

Hochman also noted that the brothers have not admitted to other key issues, such as: Bribing friends to commit perjury regarding their allegations, or claiming their father, José Menéndez, had assaulted Lyle’s girlfriend.

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They also accused their mother of poisoning the family and they attempted to acquire a gun the day before the murders.

Despite the District Attorney’s opposition, the court hearing scheduled for March 20 is still set to proceed, as the final decision rests with the judge.

The District Attorney’s Office has submitted an 88-page motion arguing against resentencing.

«If the brothers were to step forward, unequivocally admit their lies about self-defense, and take full responsibility for their actions, the court should weigh that in its analysis,» the motion states.

Hochman had previously expressed unofficially that he was against granting a new trial.

He argued that new evidence regarding alleged sexual abuse by José Menéndez did not meet the legal standard required to justify a retrial.

The request for resentencing was originally filed by former Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón, a progressive prosecutor.

Gascón had also recommended reducing the Menéndez brothers’ sentence by removing their life without parole status.

His proposal sought to reclassify their conviction as murder.

This would entail a 50-year sentence, making them immediately eligible for parole due to their age at the time of the crime (under 26 years old).

Judge Michael Jesic had previously scheduled a hearing on the resentencing request for March 20-21.

This could still move forward at the judge’s discretion.

The Menéndez brothers have also requested clemency, which could be granted by California Governor Gavin Newsom.

In February, Newsom ordered the state parole board to investigate whether the brothers pose an «unreasonable risk» to public safety if released.

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