The popular murder trial of two rich young adults who shot their parents in their Beverly Hills home is reopening after recent interest flairs up. Lyle and Erik Menendez started their trial on Aug. 20, 1989, to fight for conviction of manslaughter in self-defense, instead of a first-degree murder conviction. The boys had a rollercoaster of an experience with their trial, and then were in prison for three years after the crime. They waited in their cells for the start of the trial which would change their life.
Jose and Kitty Menendez raised their children stern and tough, in their way of parenting most would not approach. The two boys both played tennis and were ivy league bound. As the boys grew up, they experienced trauma no child should ever have to experience. Their father would abuse them in a sexual way and touch them in inappropriate areas. In the first court case, they spoke out about this abuse as well as the verbal, emotional and physical abuse which came with it. Leslie Abramson represented Erik in the courtroom and Jill Lansing represented Lyle. Their main argument was the brothers killed their parents in self-defense because they thought they would kill them first. The fear started when Lyle found out his dad had abused his brother in a sexual way just as he did to him years before.
“He said, ‘what’s going to happen if you tell someone?’ and I said, ‘you will kill me.’ And he said, ‘right’,” Erik said in the documentary.
This threat is one of the big causes the brothers started to fear for their own lives at home. One night after a heated argument at the dinner table, Erik followed Lyle to his room. It was a very vulnerable moment for both of them, which led to the share of trauma between the two boys. Because of this, he was sent into fight or flight mode because he was so protective over his younger brother. A few days after their conversation, Lyle confronted his dad, and it caused horror to arise. The threats Jose made to Erik were now broken and could be put into action. Both boys were aware of what could happen and the behavior in the household was eerie.
The next thing they did was kill their parents, and the boys would pay for what they did. The jury in the trial, which started in 1989, could not come up with a conviction, therefore it was a mistrial. Six, long years later, their second trail would begin. During the time between the two trials, OJ Simpson was falsely convicted and got out of his crime. This event is significant because it caused the media to go mad. Alas for the brothers, the judge of the OJ Simpson case would serve them in their second trial, and the judgment from the media played a huge role this time. All of the evidence and witnesses from the first trial were not able to be used and Lyle would not testify this time. All odds were against them and the decision now was either first degree murder and life in prison without parole, or death penalty.
“At the time I thought they were a bunch of rich spoiled brats who were trying to collect insurance money. But I recently learned they were victims of abuse and that the prosecutors in the case withheld key evidence,” Civil and Criminal Law teacher Gaven Jones said.
As predicted, they lost the case and have spent every day since then in prison. However, this year, Netflix released two films about the Menendez family: “Monsters: the Lyle and Erik Menendez story,” and the documentary, “The Menendez Brothers.” Both painted a picture of the story they told in the courtroom. This made a huge impact on the media, and people believe they should be tried again.
“It’s time for the Menendez brothers to be freed… I doubt anyone would claim to be the same person they were at 18. I know I’m not!” Businesswoman, reality star and criminal justice advocate Kim Kardashian said in an Instagram post caption.
All the attention on this case led those to believe if the crime was committed today, the outcome of the trial would have been different. Advocacy of sexual abuse is crucial to the world now, to a great degree with men too. Back in the late 80’s, early 90’s, it was overlooked and not discussed often.
Now, 35 years later, the case was revisited by the LA county’s attorney, George Gascón due to new evidence found. On Nov. 29, 2024, there will be a rehearing with a request to alter the brothers’ sentence or change their conviction.
However, in a recent letter, Gascón requested clemency in the case. Meaning a resentence but this time with the ability to be granted parole.
“I am excited to see how the trial turns out,” sophomore Riley Mccormack said.
This story of a happy, wealthy family turned into a horror story, has been through years of change and altercation. Nov. 29 will be a big day for sexual abuse victims, and all invested in this case.
