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Los Angeles’ newly-elected District Lawyer Nathan Hochman mentioned on Friday that he has requested the courtroom to reject the Menendez brothers’ request for a brand new trial.
This comes months after former DA George Gascon cited new proof within the type of a letter suggesting the brothers could have been abused by their father as a cause for a brand new trial.
Hochman cited points with the proof, claiming it did not meet a excessive sufficient normal for a brand new trial.
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Reserving pictures of Erik Menendez, left, and Lyle Menendez. (California Dept. of Corrections through AP, File)
“We regarded once more on the credibility of the letters, significantly this Andy Cano 1988 supposed letter weighed within the continuum of lies, and it calls into drastic query whether or not that is actually a 1988 letter written by Erik Menendez to Andy Cano about this sexual abuse,” Hochman mentioned in a Friday information convention.
The letter was allegedly written eight months earlier than the murders of their mother and father, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in 1989 by Erik Menendez to his cousin Andy Cano, and detailed alleged sexual abuse by their father.
The letter wasn’t discovered till a number of years in the past, the Menendez brothers’ legal professional mentioned.
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Hochman added, “Once more, even whether it is, it is not well timed as a result of it was not offered on the time of trial, they considerably delayed in bringing this movement from no less than 2015 to 2023, and in sure respects it is also not admissible, which is why we conclude in our casual response that the courtroom ought to deny the present habeas petition by the Menendez brothers. And if the courtroom decides to not deny it at this level, the following transfer for the courtroom is to order what’s known as an order to indicate trigger.”
He mentioned his workplace would refile his causes once more in response to an order to indicate trigger, and “the Menendezes can reply, and the courtroom can rule at that time or have a listening to within the habeas matter.”
Hochman additionally famous that California Gov. Gavin Newsom has the clemency petition on his desk and “he can do no matter he needs, each time he needs, and we will likely be dealing within the subsequent couple of weeks with the resentencing concern.”
Los Angeles County District Lawyer Nathan Hochman addresses the resentencing of Erik and Lyle Menendez for the murders of their mother and father throughout a information convention in downtown Los Angeles, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photograph/Damian Dovarganes)
Lyle and Erik Menendez had been discovered responsible in 1996 of the 1989 killing of their mother and father and sentenced to life in jail with out parole.
The Menendez brothers’ household condemned Hochman’s determination in an announcement shared with Fox Information Digital by their authorized staff.
“District Lawyer Nathan Hochman took us proper again to 1996 immediately. He opened the injuries we’ve spent many years attempting to heal,” the assertion mentioned. “He didn’t hearken to us. We’re profoundly upset by his remarks, by which he successfully tore up new proof and discredited the trauma they skilled. To recommend that the years of abuse couldn’t have led to the tragedy in 1989 is just not solely outrageous, but additionally harmful.
“Abuse doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It leaves lasting scars, rewires the mind, and traps victims in cycles of concern and trauma. To say it performed no position in Erik and Lyle’s motion is to disregard many years of psychological analysis and fundamental human understanding.”
The assertion added that it was “absurd” for Hochman to say that the proof ought to have been submitted on the trial.
“The justice system failed Erik and Lyle then, and it continues to fail them now,” it went onn “The very fact stays: the jury of their second trial by no means heard the complete reality. Key testimony was saved from them, and now, DA Hochman is making an attempt to erase this actuality as soon as once more. He isn’t just dismissing Erik and Lyle’s experiences, he’s silencing survivors in every single place who know what it’s prefer to be disbelieved, ignored, and retraumatized by a system designed to guard them.”
Lyle, left, and Erik Menendez sit with protection legal professional Leslie Abramson, proper, in Beverly Hills Municipal Courtroom throughout a listening to, Nov. 26, 1990. (AP Photograph/Nick Ut)
It mentioned Hochman promised to “take politics out of prosecutorial choices, however his actions immediately say in any other case. If he’s actually dedicated to justice, he’ll comply with the legislation and concern a resentencing suggestion that displays Erik and Lyle’s overwhelming rehabilitation, and the plain requirements set by California Penal Code 1172.1 and AB 600. And he’ll cease attempting to bury the reality about their abuse.”
“For over three many years, our household has lived with the burden of what Erik and Lyle endured – abuse that formed their lives, concern that outlined their childhood, and a justice system that refused to see them as victims,” the household continued. “We’ve got fought tirelessly for the reality to be acknowledged.”
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The household mentioned their hope is now with “Decide Jesic, that he’ll look at the proof of their case with out prejudice, rigorously adhering to California legislation with trendy understanding of trauma.”
“Our household has been ready 35 years for the justice system to acknowledge what we’ve all the time recognized,” the assertion closed. “We’re so extremely happy with the lads Erik and Lyle have grow to be – males who’ve devoted their lives to serving to others, regardless of believing they might by no means have a second likelihood. We’ve got fought and advocated tirelessly for his or her launch, in order that we will heal and eventually transfer ahead. All we’re asking for is to proper this decades-long injustice.”
New LA DA Hochman doesn’t help overturning Menendez brothers’ homicide convictions
World Information,Subsequent Large Factor in Public Knowledg
