Erik and Lyle Menendez will have a new shot at freedom after 35 years behind bars for murdering their parents, a judge ruled Tuesday.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic reduced the brothers’ sentences from life without parole to 50 years to life. They’re now eligible for parole under California’s youthful offender law because they committed the crime under the age of 26. The state parole board must still decide whether to release them from prison.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic reduced the brothers’ sentences from life without parole to 50 years to life. They’re now eligible for parole under California’s youthful offender law because they committed the crime under the age of 26. The state parole board must still decide whether to release them from prison.
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NewsTranscript
00:00The fact is, the Menendez brothers have done remarkable work, and today is a great day after 35 years.
00:15We have evolved. This is not the 90s anymore.
00:19We have a more robust understanding of a lot of things.
00:24They are a real family, real people who have lived through unimaginable horrors.
00:30And I'm hopeful and glad that we're one huge step closer to bringing the boys home.
00:37Thank you so much.
00:39You have brought hope to this family that we didn't see coming.
00:44This is a step towards the parole process.
00:46Of course, June 13th, they will meet with the parole board.
00:49And, you know, in the state of California, it's a pretty stringent process.
00:54So we are very hopeful.
00:57I thanked Mark.
00:58I thanked Cliff.
01:00There is an entire legal team.
01:01But ultimately, we are here today with this result because of Eric and Lyle, because they chose to live their lives with clarity and a purpose of service that the judge was impressed by.
01:15And so a huge thanks to them, too, for being the kind of people that we could bring home.
01:20This is something my grandmother, Joan, has fought for for 35 years.
01:25I really wish she was here today, but I'm really excited to give her the news.
01:34Beyond that, I really hope that this sets the precedence for other LWOP inmates who have shown transformation and change and have done the same as Eric and Lyle and created careers for themselves and created new hopes for themselves while they have been incarcerated.
01:59Judge Michael Jessic followed the law, followed reasoning and gave a hopeful resolution to this finally after 35 years.