Supporters of Erik and Lyle Menendez are continuing their calls for the brothers to be freed, holding a rally in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday morning even as they face opposition from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
The Menendezes, who killed their parents Kitty and Jose at their Beverly Hills home in 1989, are serving life terms and have been in prison for more than three decades.
In light of new evidence alleging the sexual abuse of boys by Jose Menendez, the brothers and their supporters have sought resentencing with the hope of a release from prison.
“We are gathered here today because truth matters, because survivors of abuse deserve to be heard, because accountability should not be weaponized to deny people the second chance they’ve worked so hard for,” said Anamaria Baralt, a cousin of the Menendez brothers, at the downtown rally.
Baralt’s comments referenced L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, who has reversed the pro-resentencing position of his predecessor George Gascon.
Instead, Hochman has claimed the brothers refuse to take accountability for their parents’ murder and instead have “continu[ed] for the past 30 years to lie about their claims of self-defense,” he said earlier this month.
That said, Hochman explained that, given certain conditions are met, he would support the brothers’ release from prison.
“We are basically, in some ways, offering a path to the Menendez brothers,” he said. “Acknowledge that the self-defense defense was phony.”
