Judge resentences Menendez brothers
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A Los Angeles judge resentenced Lyle and Erik Menendez, who have spent over three decades behind bars for the 1989 killing of their parents. They are now eligible for parole — but it's not guaranteed.
Erik and Lyle Menendez have had their sentence changed – here’s how long they’ve been in prison and when they might be released.
After more than three decades behind bars, Lyle and Erik Menendez — convicted in 1996 for the shotgun murders of their parents — have been resentenced to 50 years to life, making them eligible for parole.
In 1989, brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez killed their parents by shooting them multiple times at close range at their mansion in Beverly Hills. They were found guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy to murder in 1996, and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
In April, Hochman moved to withdraw Gascón’s recommendation, arguing that he did not believe the brothers had taken full responsibility for their crimes. This move was then rejected by Judge Jesic, paving the way for this week’s hearings to take place.
The 1989 shotgun murders of Jose and Kitty Menendez in Los Angeles gripped the nation. It was committed by their sons Erik and Lyle Menendez, who were granted their first chance at freedom in decades.