Beverly Hills police respond to Menéndez brothers' resentencing

Following the recent announcement recommending resentencing Lyle Menendez And Erik MenendezThe Beverly Hills Police Department has issued a formal statement on the high-profile case that shocked the nation more than three decades ago.

The department did not immediately comment on the details Menéndez brothersIn resentencing, she reaffirmed her commitment to justice and recognized the public's renewed interest in the case.

The first trial of the Menéndez brothers ended in a deadlock, leading to a second trial

The case dates back to August 20, 1989, and occurred when Lyle and Erik Menéndez shot and killed their parents, Jose and Kitty Menéndez, in their Beverly Hills home. At the time, Lyle was 21 and Erik was 18; They used shotguns that they had purchased just days before the crime.

The prosecution claimed the brothers murdered their wealthy parents for financial gain, while the defense argued they acted in self-defense after suffering years of sexual abuse at the hands of their father.

During the first trial in 1994, the jury could not reach a unanimous decision after hearing testimony from Lyle and Erik. The brothers claimed they acted in self-defense and feared their parents would kill them to keep the alleged abuse they suffered secret.

The deadlock resulted in a mistrial, which led to a second trial in which the brothers were ultimately convicted.

District Attorney George Gascón has proposed resentencing the Menéndez brothers

More than three decades after Lyle and Erik Menéndez were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murders of their parents, the brothers may now have a chance at release.

On Friday, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón is expected to recommend to a judge that the siblings be sentenced – a decision made after a review prompted by defense attorneys' presentation of new evidence in 2023 that they believe to substantiate the allegations of abuse by the brothers' father.

“I will never excuse murder, and these were brutal, premeditated murders,” Gascón told CNN on Thursday. “They were appropriately sentenced at the time of their trial. They received life sentences without the possibility of parole. I just think that given the current legal situation and our assessment of their behavior in prison, they deserve the opportunity to be reevaluated and potentially reintegrated into the community.”

The Beverly Hills Police Department released a statement

The Beverly Hills Police Department, which led the investigation into the 1989 murders, released a statement neither endorsing nor opposing the district attorney's recommendation.

“Today’s decision to recommend resentencing was made entirely by the Los Angeles County District Attorney. BHPD was not consulted or contacted by the District Attorney's Office regarding this decision. As the investigative agency for the case, the BHPD presented relevant facts and evidence to the lot. The charges were filed at the time by the Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

The statement made it clear that the agency was not involved in the decision-making process.

What led to the prosecutor's decision?

Gascón acknowledged that while he believed the original sentencing of Lyle and Erik Menéndez more than three decades ago was appropriate, the brothers now deserve a reevaluation.

In an interview with CNN's Stephanie Elam, he expressed his belief that the brothers were sexually abused before the murders and that they had spent enough time in prison.

He explained that he made his decision just an hour before the public announcement, citing differing opinions in his office. He noted that several factors influenced the resentencing recommendation, including statements from several family members who not only alleged that sexual abuse likely occurred but also described the Menéndez family as deeply dysfunctional for many years.

What's next for the Menéndez brothers?

A hearing on the case is expected to take place in the next 30 to 45 days, where a Los Angeles Superior Court judge will decide whether to resentence the Menéndez brothers.

Gascón has expressed support for resentencing the brothers to life in prison with the possibility of parole, a sentence that would normally mean 50 years to life. However, because the brothers were both under 26 at the time of the crime, they are eligible for juvenile probation under California law.

The reexamination of the case comes more than 35 years after the fatal shootings of Jose and Kitty Menéndez in their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989. Her sons, then ages 21 and 18, were arrested in 1990, less than a year after the murders, and ultimately convicted of first-degree murder in 1996.

Several factors contributed to the resentencing recommendation, but it remains uncertain whether the brothers – now in their 50s – will ultimately be released from prison.