Judge reduces Menendez brothers' murder sentences, putting them a step closer to freedom

LOS ANGELES (AP) — 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.

The brothers appeared via livestream video and spoke for the first time in court before the ruling.

"I killed my mom and dad. I make no excuses and also no justification," Lyle said in a statement to the court. "The impact of my violent actions on my family ... is unfathomable."

Erik also spoke about taking responsibility for his actions and apologizing to his family. "You did not deserve what I did to you, but you inspire me to do better," he said.

The judge said he had given "long thought" to what sentences the brothers deserved, taking into account all of the arguments.

"I do give them a lot of credit for changing their lives," Jesic said.

He said he was especially moved by a letter that was submitted by a prison official who wrote in support of the resentencing, something he had never done for any inmate in 25 years.

"I'm not saying they should be released, it's not for me to decide," Jesic said. "I do believe they've done enough in the past 35 years, that they should get that chance."

The brothers were sentenced in 1996 to life in prison without the possibility of parole for murdering their father, Jose Menendez, and mother, Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills home in 1989. The brothers were 18 and 21 at the time. While defence attorneys argued the brothers acted out of self-defence after years of sexual abuse by their father, prosecutors said the brothers killed their parents for a multimillion-dollar inheritance.

The case has captured the public's attention for decades — and last year, the Netflix drama " Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story " and documentary "The Menendez Brothers" brought new attention to the case. Supporters of the brothers have flown in from across the country to attend rallies and hearings in the past few months.

"Today is a great day after 35 years," defence attorney Mark Geragos said.

"We have evolved," Geragos said. "This is not the '90s anymore. We have a more robust understanding of a lot of things."

Follow The Gleaner on X and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.