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Menendez brothers: Judge agrees to resentencing over 1989 murders Menendez brothers: Judge resentences pair over 1989 murders
(31 minutes later)
Menendez brothers, Erik, left, and Lyle on the steps of their Beverly Hills home in November 1989Menendez brothers, Erik, left, and Lyle on the steps of their Beverly Hills home in November 1989
A Los Angeles judge has agreed to resentence two brothers who are serving life in prison for the 1989 murders of their parents in a Beverly Hills mansion. A Los Angeles judge has resentenced two brothers who are serving life in prison for the 1989 murders of their parents in a Beverly Hills mansion, making them eligible for parole.
Judge Michael Jesic's ruling in the case of Erik and Lyle Menendez paves the way for the brothers' possible release on parole. Judge Michael Jesic gave Erik and Lyle Menendez a new sentence of 50 years to life. A decision on their potential release will be made at a parole hearing in June.
The pair have acknowledged killing Kitty and Jose Menendez, but said they acted out of self-defence after years of abuse and have since been rehabilitated. The pair acknowledged killing Kitty and Jose Menendez, but said they acted out of self-defence after years of abuse.
Prosecutors have argued the brothers meticulously planned the shotgun killings to access their parents' fortune, are yet to take responsibility and should not be released. Prosecutors argued the brothers planned the shotgun killings to access their parents' fortune, are yet to take responsibility and should not be released. The case, which has prompted books, documentaries and dramas, still divides America.
The notorious case, which has prompted books, documentaries and dramas, still divides America. After the judge agreed to resentence them, the brothers delivered an emotional statement to the court. They went through details of the brutal killings and their decision to reload and continue shooting their parents at point-blank range in their living room.
The brothers were expected to first give a statement - via video - to the court at Tuesday's hearing. Both apologised for their actions and talked about their hopes to work with sex abuse victims and help those incarcerated if they were to be released.
The siblings appeared virtually for the proceedings, both wearing bright blue shirts and sitting in the same room. At the start, they appeared upbeat and smiled, waving to their legal team. "I had to stop being selfish and immature to really understand what my parents went though in those last moments," Erik Menendez told the court.
The long-awaited resentencing hearing began on Tuesday to determine whether two could be freed from prison after three decades. He describes the "shock, confusion and betrayal" they must have felt seeing their sons holding guns and opening fire.
The court heard relatives detail how the case affected their family, and pleading for the judge to allow the siblings' release from prison. Lyle Menendez's voice cracked as he talked about the impact of his "unfathomable" actions on their family.
The brothers' cousin, Anamaria Baralt, who has been close with them since they were children, told the judge they deserved a "second chance at life". "I lied to you and forced you into a spotlight of public humiliation," he said to his family.
He said they had "cried with me and expressed their suffering" and he was "grateful for your love and forgiveness".
Judge Jesic called the brothers' work while in prison "remarkable", but noted their original sentence was justified at the time.
He said under the guidelines, they were eligible for resentencing, issuing his new sentence of 50 years to life. The brothers have already served more than 30 years in prison.
Earlier, the court heard relatives plead for the judge to allow the siblings' release.
The brothers' cousin, Anamaria Baralt, who said she has been close with them since they were children, told the judge they deserved a "second chance at life".
"It's been a nightmare," she said. "I am desperate for this process to be over.""It's been a nightmare," she said. "I am desperate for this process to be over."
At times, both Erik and Lyle appeared emotional as family recounted how their crimes have impacted them. Both wiped their eyes at times, with Erik covering his mouth or putting his head in his hands at other moments. Ms Baralt told the court she speaks with the brothers frequently and testified that they had taken "ownership of their actions".
Ms Baralt speaks with Erik and Lyle frequently, she told the court, and testified that they've taken "ownership of their actions". She said Lyle Menendez had acknowledged to her he had asked a witness to lie when testifying at their previous trial.
She said they admitted they tried to steer their previous trial - with Lyle telling her he'd asked a witness to lie when testifying. But Ms Baralt added: "They are very different men from the boys they were."
"They are very different men from the boys they were," she said.