Los Angeles.- Los Angeles prosecutors are examining new evidence in the case of the Menendez brothers, convicted of the murder of their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion more than 35 years ago, the city’s district attorney reported Thursday.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said during a news conference that attorneys for Erik Menendez, 53, and his 56-year-old brother, Lyle Menendez, have asked a court to overturn their conviction.
Gascón said there is no doubt the brothers committed the murders, but that his office will review the new evidence and make a decision on whether a new sentence is warranted. The hearing is scheduled for November 29.
New evidence presented in a petition includes a letter written by Erik Menendez that his attorneys say corroborates allegations that his father sexually abused him. Gascón said he believes the issue of sexual assault would have been handled more sensitively if the case had occurred today.
Gascón said his office had not yet made any decision and that he did not know the ‘validity’ of what was presented in the trial.
“We will evaluate everything,” he said.
Gascón, who is seeking re-election, noted that more than 300 people have been convicted again during his term, and only four have committed crimes again.
Mark Geragos and Cliff Gardner, attorneys for the Menendez brothers, did not immediately respond Thursday to emails seeking comment on Gascón’s announcement.
The case has gained new attention in recent weeks after Netflix began streaming the true crime drama “The Menendez Brothers.”
In a statement on sexual abuse, and that men experience the trauma of rape differently than women.
The brothers were sentenced to life in prison for shooting dead their parents, José and Kitty Menéndez, in 1989.
Lyle, then 21, and Erik, then 18, admitted that they shot and killed their father, a showbiz executive, and their mother, but said they feared their parents were about to kill them to prevent It was discovered that the father had been sexually abusing Erik for a long time.
Prosecutors maintained there was no evidence of sexual abuse. They said the children were seeking their parents’ multimillion-dollar estate.
Jurors rejected the death penalty in favor of life in prison without parole.
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