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LOS ANGELES – In a bombshell decision, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic slashed nan Menendez brothers’ original life-without-parole position to 50 years-to-life, making Erik and Lyle eligible for parole.
Judge Michael Jesic ruled Tuesday that some brothers received a reduced condemnation of 50 years to life pinch nan opportunity for parole for nan 1989 shotgun murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez.
"I’m not suggesting they should beryllium released [on parole]. That’s not for maine to decide," he said.
Their destiny now lies successful nan hands of nan parole committee and Calif. Gov. Newsom.
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This operation of 2 booking photos provided by nan California Department of Corrections shows Erik Menendez, left, and Lyle Menendez. (California Dept. of Corrections via AP, File)
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Neama Rahmani told Fox News Digital that Erik and Kyle Menendez "will apt beryllium freed successful a matter of months," adding that he does not expect "the parole committee or Governor Newsom" to artifact their release.
Rahmani noted that nan resentencing determination rests connected whether nan brothers airs "an unreasonable consequence of committing different convulsive crime," and he believes nan grounds weighs heavy successful their favor.
Pointing to Judge Jesic’s ruling, Rahmani explained that because erstwhile LA County District Attorney George Gascon initiated nan resentencing request, caller LA DA Nathan Hochman "couldn’t propulsion it back," and nan tribunal could only contradict resentencing if nan consequence period wasn’t met.
"That wasn’t nan case," he said, saying that "prison guards and different inmates testified that they were exemplary prisoners."
Attorney Mark Geragos speaks to reporters astatine nan Menendez brothers' resentencing hearing. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
Rahmani besides highlighted nan unprecedented support from nan Menendez family, watching that "every surviving family personnel of Jose and Kitty Menendez besides supported their release, which is thing that ne'er happens. Victims do not support resentencing."
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The brothers, now 57 and 54, dressed successful bluish jailhouse garb, appeared successful tribunal via video camera from nan San Diego situation wherever they are incarcerated. (Bill Robles)
Judge Jesic made this constituent while handing down nan reduced sentences, saying he had fixed a batch of thought to nan sentence, while acknowledging "the horrific crimes nan brothers committed."
He added that he was "equally shocked by letters of support he received from situation officials" who said highly of nan brothers' actions down bars, calling it "remarkable."
The Menendez family poses extracurricular nan courtroom. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
Jesic stated nan original condemnation of life without parole was appropriate, but fixed nan alteration successful authorities rule allowing for resentencing, Jesic said, "They’ve done capable complete 35 years to get that chance."
Rahmani stressed that specified wide victim-family backing made it each but intolerable for nan existent territory lawyer to derail nan process.
"The bottommost statement is that location was excessively overmuch support for nan Menendez brothers, some wrong and extracurricular nan courtroom, for Hochman to forestall their resentencing," he said. It conscionable goes to show nan powerfulness of a Netflix series."
He added that "the Menendez brothers should nonstop Netflix and erstwhile LA County DA Gascon bully cards this vacation season."
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The resentencing proceeding comes aft nan brothers revenge a habeas corpus petition successful May 2023 citing caller grounds of intersexual assault. Former Los Angeles County DA George Gascon past revenge a mobility for resentencing successful October 2024. Both filings travel nan transition of AB 600, a California rule allowing for resentencing of long-convicted inmates to align pinch existent law.
Talia Menendez speaks to reporters aft nan resentencing ruling. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
Gascon recommended resentencing nan brothers to 25 years to life for each count of first-degree murder, truthful a full of 50 years to life for each brother. Because of their property astatine nan clip of nan murders, that condemnation would make them eligible for parole. Gascon cited "a deeper knowing of nan complexities surrounding intersexual violence" and "Erik and Lyle’s continuous rehabilitative efforts."
During nan greeting convention connected Tuesday, 3 Menendez family members were called to nan guidelines by nan defense to effort and person nan judge that nan brothers had shown remorse and had been rehabilitated.
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All 3 witnesses were asked whether they thought their antheral cousins would successful truth perpetrate another heinous crime.
"There is nary chance," Anamaria Baralt said. "I would stake my life connected it."
"They are not going to perpetrate a [serious crime]. Because they person excessively galore plans to springiness backmost to nan world," Tamara Goodall said.
"Absolutely. No. None. They are highly singular group now," Diane Hernandez said.
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Diane Hernandez extracurricular of tribunal for nan resentencing proceeding for Erik and Lyle Menendez successful Van Nuys, CA, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Baralt is simply a relative of nan Menendez Brothers who are successful nan process of appealing their sentences for nan execution of their parents. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
Mark Geragos, nan lawyer for nan Menendez brothers, said nan family's unified plea for nan brothers' resentencing is simply a "unicorn."
The brothers, now 57 and 54, were dressed successful bluish jailhouse garb, and flashed large grins pursuing their resentencing, and waved to family and friends successful attendance.
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Menendez brothers, Erik, left, and Lyle connected nan steps of their Beverly Hills location successful November 1989. (Ronald L. Soble / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Erik and Lyle Menendez appeared successful tribunal via video camera from nan San Diego situation wherever they are incarcerated and were each fixed a chance to reside nan tribunal anterior to their sentencing.
Each relative said for astir 10 minutes and offered afloat admittance to nan crimes.
Lyle Menendez said first and took work for nan cold-blooded sidesplitting of his parents successful their Beverly Hills mansion successful 1989.
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"I return afloat responsibility. I killed my parents. I made nan prime to termination my mom and dada successful their ain home."
"I made nan prime to make a insult of nan justness system. I connection nary excuse and I don’t blasted my parents," he said.
"I was impulsive and immature, and I bottled up my ain emotions and anger. I was scared, but besides filled pinch rage," he continued. "Had I had nan coping skills and trusted others, I would person not done this. Even aft I killed him (Jose), I still heard his voice."
"I’m profoundly ashamed for what I did," he said.
After his older relative addressed nan court, Erik Menendez spoke, expressing his "profound sorrow."
Attorney Mark Geragos and Anamaria Baralt, a relative of nan Menendez brothers, exit nan courthouse. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
"I fired each 5 rounds astatine my parents and went backmost to reload. I lied to police. I lied to my family. I'm genuinely sorry," he said.
"My actions were criminal, selfish and cowardly. I return afloat responsibility. I americium genuinely sorry. My parents should beryllium alive. There tin ne'er beryllium afloat treatment for my crime," he continued. Geragos took a triumph thigh pursuing nan bombshell ruling for the killers brothers' resentencing.
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"I ne'er thought 2 years later we'd beryllium opinionated present aft 35 years pinch this awesome family that I person grown to emotion for illustration my ain family," Geragos said. "And now we spot nan cookware astatine nan extremity of nan rainbow, truthful to speak."
Following nan judge's decision, LA District Attorney Hochman shared his consequence to nan ruling and said "Justice should ne'er beryllium swayed by spectacle."
"The determination to resentence Erik and Lyle Menendez was a monumental 1 that has important implications for nan families involved, nan community, and nan principles of justice," Hochman said successful a news release. "Our office’s motions to retreat nan resentencing mobility revenge by nan erstwhile management ensured that nan Court was presented pinch each nan facts earlier making specified a consequential decision.
"The lawsuit of nan Menendez brothers has agelong been a model for nan nationalist to amended understand nan judicial system. This case, for illustration each cases — particularly those that captivate nan nationalist — must beryllium viewed pinch a captious eye. Our guidance and study ensured that nan Court received a complete and meticulous grounds of nan facts. Justice should ne'er beryllium swayed by spectacle."
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The brothers stay successful prison, but are now eligible for parole.
Both Lyle and Erik are already scheduled to look earlier nan committee connected June 13th as portion of a broad consequence appraisal study (CRA) ordered by California Governor Gavin Newsom, who is considering nan brothers’ clemency petition – a abstracted imaginable way to freedom. Fox News is told nan 2 types of parole hearings cannot beryllium combined.
The parole committee is expected to taxable its clemency proposal to Newsom connected nan June date.
Newsom tin besides commute their condemnation astatine immoderate time.
Fox News' Lee Ross contributed to this report.
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