Los Angeles district attorney meets with family as he weighs the Menendez brothers’ case
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman met with the Menendez brothers’ family on Friday as he weighs whether to pursue a punitive measure that would allow them to walk free.
The family has pushed for the release of Erik and Lyle Menendez, nearly 35 years after they were taken into custody for the murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty. The family claims the brothers killed their parents in “imperfect” self-defense after years of sexual abuse from Jose.
At a news conference Friday afternoon, Hochman said he had had a “productive” meeting with the family and had not yet made a decision.
“It was a very productive conversion over a number of hours,” he said.
Former District Attorney George Gascón filed a petition in October to reduce their sentences, which would make them eligible for parole. A hearing on that request is scheduled for Jan. 30-31.
Hochman, who defeated Gascón in November and was sworn in last month, was sharply critical of his predecessor during the campaign. He could withdraw Gascón’s request, although regardless of Hochman’s opinion, the judge could proceed with the resentencing.
Hochman said his office is reviewing thousands of pages of transcripts and court records, and expects to have a decision by the Jan. 30 hearing.
“It takes a lot of time. It’s one of those decisions you want to make sure you get right,” he said. “There’s not a lot of free time in my life right now.”
More than two dozen members of the Menendez and Andersen families met with Hochman. In a statement ahead of the meeting, the family said they “hoped for an open and honest discussion.”
“Despite the abuse they suffered as children and the unfairness of their current sentence, Erik and Lyle Menendez have taken responsibility for their actions over the past thirty years and made positive contributions to their community through leadership and rehabilitation.” , the family said in the statement.
The brothers’ attorney, Mark Geragos, was scheduled to hold a news conference Friday to discuss the meeting but canceled it. The family was not present at Hochman’s press conference.
Jose and Kitty Menendez were killed by gunfire in their Beverly Hills home in 1989. The brothers were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after being convicted of first-degree murder in 1996.
One family member, Kitty’s brother Milton Andersen, has opposed the conviction. His attorney, Kathleen Cady, has been hired to serve in Hochman’s administration, prompting Menendez family attorneys to accuse Hochman of a conflict of interest. The attorney, Bryan Freedman, has called for the attorney general to take over the case.
Hochman said the issue did not come up during Friday’s meeting and said there is no conflict of interest.
The case has attracted renewed public attention thanks to the Netflix series “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” which was released in September. The family has also argued that new evidence supports their claims that they were abused and that they are entitled to a new trial.
Gov. Gavin Newsom is also expected to consider a request for clemency, though he has indicated he will turn to Hochman.
