The Menendez brothers were resentenced in May to 50 years to life in prison, which made them eligible for parole. Both were originally serving life sentences without the possibility of parole after being convicted of first-degree murder in the 1989 shooting deaths of their parents at their family’s Beverly Hills home.
Commissioners will review testimony from other family members and prosecutors, while also considering how the brothers behaved while in prison, their criminal histories and potential future plans if released.
If they are found appropriate for parole, a process which can take months to complete, the ultimate decision to free them will end with California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has 30 days to accept, deny or change their paroles, or send it back to the board.
Newsom has so far declined to comment on how he would decide to act should the board recommend parole for the brothers.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, who has opposed parole for the brothers, said in a statement that his office would make a final decision on its position based on evidence presented at the hearing.
“The Menendez brothers have never fully accepted responsibility for the horrific murders of their parents, instead continuing to promote a fall narrative of self-defense that was rejected by the jury decades ago,” he said.
“We have consistently opposed their release because they have not demonstrated full insight into their crimes or shown that they have been fully rehabilitated, and therefore continue to pose a risk to society.”
Hochman also pointed out that Newsom denied parole to Sirhan Sirhan, who was sentenced to life for assassinating Robert F. Kennedy in 1968, because he failed “to exhibit full insight and responsibility,” which he says is critical to deciding whether someone is eligible for parole.
Several of the Menendez brothers’ family members, who have formed an advocacy group named “Justice For Erik and Lyle,” released a statement that said “As always, our family remains cautiously optimistic, grounding ourselves in the reality that California’s parole process is incredibly rigorous, with low grant rates.”
The group further says it expects the brothers will face heavy scrutiny in their parole board hearing.
“We know that Erik and Lyle will come home, that is no longer a doubt,” it added.
“Wishing my amazing husband all the love and strength for his parole hearing,” Tammi Menendez, Erik’s wife, posted to X Thursday. “I believe in you and can’t wait for this new chapter together.”
“You’ve got this!” she concluded. (UPI)
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