New evidence menendez brothers

The infamous Menendez brothers consist of Lyle and Erik Menendez.

Posted September 27, Reviewed by Kaja Perina. Erik and Lyle Menendez have asked the courts to vacate their murder convictions. They filed their petition For Writ Of Habeas Corpus on May 3, , in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the day after a documentary aired with new sexual abuse allegations levied against their father by a member of the musical group Menudo. Their lawyers claim that new evidence corroborating their allegations of sexual abuse and resulting Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD has been uncovered, warranting a re-opening of the case, in which the convictions could be vacated or a new evidentiary hearing allowed. On Aug. Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez was hit with one bullet as the brothers re-loaded and fatally shot her.

New evidence menendez brothers

Lyle and Erik Menendez bought two shotguns with cash. The next day, the brothers drove to a shooting range. He was struck five times, including in the back of the head. Their year-old mother, wounded, crawled on the ground as the brothers reloaded before administering a final fatal blast. The brutality of the crime led many — including law enforcement — to speculate whether the killings were mob hits. The answer prosecutors offered was simple: money. But during two highly scrutinized trials that launched the Menendez brothers into true crime notoriety, defense attorneys argued the killings came after years of violent, repeated physical and sexual abuse suffered at the hands of their father, a top executive at RCA Records. The first trial ended with two hung juries. In the second, allegations of abuse and supporting testimonies were restricted, and Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted of first-degree murder in March Twenty-seven years later, attorneys and advocates want the court to take another look at the case amid new sexual assault allegations they say corroborate a history of abuse against the brothers. New evidence backs their claims, lawyers say, and again raises the specter that the story behind the murders — and the Menendez family itself — may be more complicated. A recently discovered letter that attorneys say was written by Erik Menendez suggests sexual abuse by his father continued into his late teenage years. And new allegations made by a former member of the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo suggest Lyle and Erik Menendez were not the only alleged victims of abuse. Erik and Lyle Menendez point to a documentary that alleges Jose Menendez sexually assaulted an underage member of Menudo.

According to CBS News, new evidence in the case could help them get out of jail. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego.

An Oct. The brothers are serving life sentences for fatally shooting their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in But it has been a long and life-shattering journey that Lyle tells Rosie may have ended differently if the trial had happened today. There was no contacting friends. Nobody asked those questions. There was just no cultural mechanism to believe or to understand what was going on, Lyle said.

Lyle and Erik Menendez have been behind bars in California for more than three decades for the killing of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. They were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison in the notorious case that captured the nation's attention. Now, the brothers are hoping that new evidence will reopen their case and set them free. The Menendez brothers admit that they killed their parents. Instead, the focus of the case has long been on why they did it. They insist that they killed out of fear and in self-defense after a lifetime of physical, emotional and sexual abuse suffered at the hands of their parents. One of their lawyers, Cliff Gardner, tells "48 Hours" that new evidence corroborates those longstanding claims and lessens their culpability. Gardner argues that Lyle and Erik Menendez should have been convicted of manslaughter instead of first-degree murder, and that if they had been, they would have received a much shorter sentence and been out of prison a long time ago. The new evidence includes a letter that Gardner says was written by Erik Menendez to Erik's cousin, Andy Cano, in December , about eight months before the crime. The letter reads, in part, "I've been trying to avoid dad.

New evidence menendez brothers

Lyle and Erik Menendez have been behind bars in California for more than three decades for the killing of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. Convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison in a case that captured the nation's attention, they had no hope of ever walking free. But new evidence may change that. Natalie Morales : What did you think when you heard about these … new claims and evidence …. Lyle Menendez : I mean, for me, I just was happy … 'cause it's a burden to be telling what happened to you and just have so much doubt in the public air. The question is not whether the Menendez brothers killed their parents. They admit that they did. Instead, the focus of the case has long been why they did it. They insist that they killed out of fear and in self-defense after a lifetime of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse suffered at the hands of their parents. One of their lawyers, Cliff Gardner, says the new evidence corroborates those claims—and lessens their culpability.

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They were abused their whole life. The office is preparing a response, after which the judge is expected to rule on the petition. The motive of these murders was assumed to be money and greed. In conjunction with his cousin's testimony, this letter corroborates Erik's claim that his father had sexually abused him for years. There, he says, he was given wine, drugged and raped by Jose Menendez, suggesting the trip was to help seal a deal between RCA and Menudo. It had been sent to her son, Andy Cano, who had been close with his cousins and testified at their trials. Warner Bros. Defense attorneys successfully argued during the first trial that testimony of abuse allegations was relevant, citing state law that allowed female victims to include evidence of abuse and its psychological effects. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Sports Yahoo Sports. The courts acknowledge that PTSD can be a valid defense for insanity, unconsciousness, and self-defense in criminal proceedings. Salvador Hernandez. After their convictions, Erik and Lyle Menendez pursued unsuccessful appeals , but Gardner argues this time is different. Specifically, in the letter, Erik tells Andres, "I've been trying to avoid Dad.

Attorneys for the brothers filed court papers Wednesday that contend newly surfaced evidence warrants a reopening of the case. They are currently serving life in prison. Jose Menendez and his wife, Mary Louise, or "Kitty," were gunned down by their sons in

City Council votes to allow the demolition of a Jewish and labor movement landmark. Both brothers alleged that their father began molesting them at age six, and Lyle contended that his father raped him and forcibly tried to perform oral sex regularly. California L. Gardner said he believes the ruling to limit allegations of sexual abuse from the second trial skewed the outcome. Times Everywhere. However, their lawyers now allege that new evidence supports their defense of years of abuse and the PTSD this caused them. Lyle Menendez, right, and brother Erik listen to a charge of murder conspiracy against them with Leslie Abramson, far left, attorney for Erik, Dec. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego. There was just no cultural mechanism to believe or to understand what was going on, Lyle said. Votto had been without a team after the Reds declined his option for the season. After their first trial resulted in a hung jury, allegations of abuse were restricted in the second trial, and prosecutors insisted the abuse claims were a lie. Lyle and Erik were ultimately convicted in their second un-televised trial, where Lyle said much of the evidence related to the alleged sexual abuse was suppressed. Lyle and Erik Menendez bought two shotguns with cash. About the Author.