Los Angeles DA Intervenes In Menendez Brothers Resentencing Effort

Empty courtroom with microphones and a podium

Los Angeles’ District Attorney Nathan Hochman has challenged a resentencing motion for the Menendez brothers, questioning their self-defense claims despite insistence on parental abuse.

Key Insights

Nathan Hochman withdrew a request to reduce the Menendez brothers’ sentences.
The Menendez brothers are serving life without parole for the murder of their parents.
Hochman claims the brothers lack insight into their crimes and have not taken responsibility.
New evidence of abuse claims deemed a pattern of deceit.
Hearing dates are set, but Hochman stands firm against leniency.

District Attorney’s Firm Stance

Nathan Hochman, District Attorney for Los Angeles, has made a significant legal move in the controversial Menendez brothers’ case by formally opposing requests for resentencing. Hochman, noting the brothers’ continuous denial of their actions, rejected previous considerations of leniency and highlighted the importance of maintaining the integrity of the law. He stated that their self-defense claims were not only unfounded but also perpetuated as ‘lies’ to manipulate the legal system.

Hochman emphasized that the original sentencing, life without parole, was a fair judgment reflecting the seriousness of the 1989 crimes where Lyle and Erik Menendez murdered their parents. His recent filing moved to withdraw any proceedings related to resentencing initiated by former DA George Gascón, who had been more sympathetic to claims of the brothers’ emotional and psychological rehabilitation.

Questionable Self-Defense Claims

The Menendez family’s allegations of long-term sexual abuse by their father, used to justify the brutal killings as acts of self-defense, have been consistently contested by the prosecution. Hochman pointed to these assertions as crafted narratives aimed at swaying public and legal opinion. The 88-page document filed by Hochman reframes these claims as a complex pattern of calculated deception, countering the portrayal of the brothers as victims.

DA Hochman said, “If the Menendez brothers, at some point, unequivocally, sincerely and fully accept complete responsibility for all their criminal actions, acknowledge that the self-defense defense was phony and their parents weren’t going to kill them… and finally come clean with the court, with the public, with the DA’s office, with their own family members and acknowledge all these lies… in the future, the court can weigh these new insights into making a determination as to whether they now qualify for rehabilitation and re-sentencing. And the [DA’s office] will do the same.”

Despite the Menendez family’s insistence on new evidence supporting their claims, Hochman remained resolute in his stance, linking the case to others with a lack of insight shown by convicted individuals. His approach suggests a more stringent evaluation standard for any reconsideration of the brothers’ fate.

Public and Judicial Reactions

Hochman’s decision has not gone without criticism from various quarters, including the Menendez family’s accusation of political bias. They argue that their sons have shown remorse and undergone rehabilitation during their decades of incarceration. Meanwhile, public interest in the case remains piqued, fueled by recent documentaries and continued media scrutiny. In response, Hochman articulated that his conclusions are grounded in thorough analyses of factual records and consultations with legal experts involved in the case.

Upcoming court proceedings scheduled for late March will further explore these arguments, though the DA’s opposition poses a formidable barrier to an early release or sentence modification. For now, Hochman’s position reiterates a commitment to uphold the original judgments unless compelling evidence necessitates change.