Judge rules Menendez brothers맥스카지노 bid for freedom through resentencing can continue
Erik and Lyle Menendez맥스카지노s resentencing hearings can continue despite opposition from the Los Angeles County district attorney, a judge ruled Friday.
Former Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón asked a judge last year to change the brothers맥스카지노 sentence from life without the possibility of parole to 50 years to life. That would made them immediately eligible for parole because they committed the crime when they were younger than 26.
But Gascón맥스카지노s successor reversed course. Nathan Hochman last month to withdraw the resentencing request.
In light of Hochman맥스카지노s opposition to resentencing, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic ruled that the court can move forward with the hearing. 맥스카지노Everything you argued today is absolutely fair game for the resentencing hearing next Thursday," he said.
Hochman맥스카지노s office said they because they had not admitted to lies told during their trial about why they killed their parents and did not 맥스카지노fully recognize, acknowledge, and accept complete responsibility맥스카지노 for their crime.
The brothers appeared in court over Zoom but hadn't made any public statements through the first few hours of Friday's proceeding.
They were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole at ages 18 and 21 after being convicted of murdering their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills home in 1989.
While the defense argued they acted out of self-defense after years of sexual abuse by their father, prosecutors said the brothers killed their parents for a multimillion-dollar inheritance.
Deputy district attorney Habib Balian said Friday that the key issue with Gascón맥스카지노s resentencing petition was that it did not fully address rehabilitation and missed key elements of the original crime committed.
맥스카지노What does it mean? To learn from your mistakes and truly understand that you were wrong,맥스카지노 Balian said.
Balian presented evidence and video clips of the brothers' testimony from the first trial to demonstrate instances where they 맥스카지노hunkered down in their bunker of deceit, lies, and deception.맥스카지노
He said the brothers killed their parents out of greed when they learned they would be taken out of the will, citing psychiatrist's notes that he said showed 맥스카지노this was not self-defense.맥스카지노
The brothers맥스카지노 attorney, Mark Geragos, called the presentation a 맥스카지노dog and pony show맥스카지노 and said it was 맥스카지노nothing more than political cover맥스카지노 as a result of Hochman defeating Gascón in the district attorney맥스카지노s race.
맥스카지노They have authorized the denial of sexual abuse,맥스카지노 Geragos said of the prosecution맥스카지노s presentation.
Geragos argued the judge had full authority to proceed with resentencing under a California law passed in 2023 that allows a court to recall a sentence and initiate resentencing at any point in time.
Geragos also objected to Balian including a photo of the deceased and bloody Menendez parents in his presentation, which he said 맥스카지노retraumatized맥스카지노 family members and victims. The brothers' cousin Anamaria Baralt and aunt Terry Baralt were among the family members who were in the courtroom.
The family's relationship with Hochman has soured. Most of the brothers' extended family supports their resentencing.
Tamara Goodall, a cousin of the brothers, submitted a complaint with the state asking that Hochman be removed from the case, citing his bias against the brothers and alleging he violated a law meant to protect victims' rights.
Hochman had a 맥스카지노hostile, dismissive and patronizing tone맥스카지노 in meetings with the family and created an 맥스카지노intimidating and bullying atmosphere," Goodall wrote.
In their response to the district attorney's motion to withdraw the resentencing request, attorneys for the Menendez brothers questioned whether Hochman had legitimate reasons for doing so or was influenced by 맥스카지노a change of political winds.맥스카지노
The attorneys pointed out that Hochman demoted Nancy Theberge and Brock Lunsford, the two deputy district attorneys who filed the original resentencing motion. Theberge and Lunsford have since filed lawsuits against Hochman alleging harassment, discrimination and retaliation for their work on the Menendez brothers case.
맥스카지노The law requires fairness, not personal vendettas," Anamaria Baralt, a cousin of the brothers, said in a statement.
Without resentencing, the brothers would still have two other pathways to freedom. They have submitted a clemency plea to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has ordered the state parole board to investigate whether the brothers would pose a risk to the public if they are released. The parole board is scheduled to hold its final hearings June 13.
The brothers also submitted a petition for habeas corpus in May 2023 asking the court to grant them a new trial in light of new evidence presented. Hochman's office also filed a motion opposing the petition.