Los Angeles DA Rejecting New Evidence In Menendez Case

Empty courtroom with microphones and a podium

Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman challenges the possibility of resentencing for the Menendez brothers, maintaining that their claims of self-defense lack credibility.

Key Takeaways

Hochman withdrew the request to reduce the Menendez brothers’ sentences.
The Menendez brothers are serving life sentences for the 1989 murders of their parents.
Hochman claims the brothers have not fully taken responsibility for their actions.
An 88-page document was filed to withdraw the resentencing motion.

District Attorney Stands Firm

Nathan Hochman, Los Angeles County’s District Attorney, announced the withdrawal of the request to reduce sentences for Lyle and Erik Menendez. Convicted for the murders of their parents in 1989, these brothers are serving life sentences without the possibility of parole. Hochman insists that the brothers fabricated allegations of parental abuse as justification for their actions.

Hochman emphasized the brothers’ lack of remorse and insight into their crimes, highlighting that they have not taken full responsibility. This is a change from former District Attorney George Gascón’s more lenient stance, which was more in line with views suggesting the brothers had been rehabilitated.

Legal Strategy and New Claims

The Menendez family presents new evidence supporting claims of abuse, though Hochman refers to these assertions as part of a deceitful narrative. The existing resentencing motion was rejected on the grounds that these claims don’t alter the brothers’ culpability. Hochman has filed an 88-page document to rescind the motion, citing premeditated actions by the brothers.

Despite a hearing set for March, the brothers’ attorneys seek clemency, appealing to Governor Gavin Newsom. Hochman remains unswayed, asserting that substantive rehabilitation and acknowledgment of their actions are prerequisites for reconsidered sentencing.

Public and Judicial Reaction

The case persists in captivating public interest, underscored by high-profile documentaries. Hochman compares the Menendez brothers’ case to those of notorious inmates lacking insight into their crimes. In contrast, Lyle Menendez disputed Hochman’s claims publicly, maintaining innocence regarding conspiracy theories tied to their motives.

The Menendez saga may be adjudicated afresh based on new evidence, though Hochman remains committed to implementing justice defined by the law, devoid of emotional sway from public opinion or familial pressure.