California Governor Gavin Newsom will postpone his decision on the Menendez brothers' clemency petition to allow incoming Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman to review the case, his office announced Monday.
“The Governor respects the District Attorney's role in ensuring justice and believes the voters have entrusted this responsibility to District Attorney-elect Hochman,” Newsom's office said in a statement. “The Governor will defer to the DA-elect's review and analysis of the Menendez case before making any clemency decisions.”
Lyle and Eric Menendez have spent nearly 35 years in state prison after being convicted in the 1989 murder of their parents. Outgoing District Attorney George boastful Letters were sent to Newsom in support of the brothers' pardon after the Netflix show and documentary sparked interest in the brothers' case.
“I strongly support clemency for Eric and Lyle Menendez, who are currently serving life sentences without the possibility of parole. They have served 34 years of their sentences, respectively, and have continued their education and are helping fellow prisoners. Have worked to create new programs to support rehabilitation.” Gascon said in a statement Before losing his re-election bid.
In an interview, Hochman said that if the case is not resolved by November 25 habeas petition Hearing – When a judge hears a motion requesting to vacate a first-degree murder conviction – he or she will review the case to determine whether to recommend resentencing.
HochmanOn December 2, Sworn indicated that he would petition the court for additional time to review the cast before a retrial on December 11.
“I will not delay for the sake of delay because this case is very important to the Menendez brothers,” Hochman said in an interview in early November. “This is too important for the family members of the victims. It is too important for the public to delay the review any longer than necessary, which is what people should expect from the district attorney.”
He said such an analysis of the case would include reviewing thousands of pages of jail files and months-long trial transcripts, as well as talking to law enforcement, prosecutors, defense attorneys and family members of the victims.
Hochman said, “Whatever position I ultimately take, people should expect that I have spent a long time thinking about it, analyzing the evidence.” “But my 34 years of criminal justice experience – including hundreds of cases as a prosecutor and a defense attorney – allows me to work as quickly and expeditiously in conducting this type of in-depth review as I have done many times before.” Have done in cases.”
After being arrested for their parents' deaths in 1990, the Menendez brothers went through two trials where prosecutors argued that they murdered their parents because GreedHowever, the siblings testified that they killed their parents in self-defense. The brothers told the jury about the alleged sexual abuse they experienced at the hands of their father during an emotional, highly publicized first trial.
After final arguments, the jurors spent nearly four days deliberating but failed to reach a unanimous decision. The judge declared a mistrial after the jury was unable to return a verdict.
In the next and final trial, the presiding judge did not allow the defense to present some evidence related to the allegations of sexual abuse. Prosecutors argued that the brothers were lying about the allegations.
A second jury convicted Eric and Lyle Menendez of first-degree murder in 1995 and sentenced them to life in prison without ever committing a crime. Possibility of parole.