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| Menendez brothers resentenced: Pair eligible for parole | Menendez brothers resentenced: Pair eligible for parole |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Erik Menendez (left) and Lyle Menendez, in undated police photos | Erik Menendez (left) and Lyle Menendez, in undated police photos |
| A Los Angeles judge has reduced the sentence of Erik and Lyle Menendez, making them eligible for parole more than 30 years after they killed their parents in a Beverly Hills mansion. | A Los Angeles judge has reduced the sentence of Erik and Lyle Menendez, making them eligible for parole more than 30 years after they killed their parents in a Beverly Hills mansion. |
| Judge Michael Jesic resentenced the brothers on Tuesday, after hearing evidence from relatives and prison staff about their attempts to make amends while behind bars. | Judge Michael Jesic resentenced the brothers on Tuesday, after hearing evidence from relatives and prison staff about their attempts to make amends while behind bars. |
| The district attorney had argued that they were not rehabilitated, but now the state parole board could order the brothers' release as early as next month. | The district attorney had argued that they were not rehabilitated, but now the state parole board could order the brothers' release as early as next month. |
| The brothers have long argued that they killed Kitty and Jose Menendez out of self-defence after years of sexual abuse, in a high-profile case that prompted a Netflix show which renewed interest in the story. | The brothers have long argued that they killed Kitty and Jose Menendez out of self-defence after years of sexual abuse, in a high-profile case that prompted a Netflix show which renewed interest in the story. |
| After hearing that they had been resentenced to 50 years to life with the possibility of parole, the brothers delivered an emotional statement to the court. | After hearing that they had been resentenced to 50 years to life with the possibility of parole, the brothers delivered an emotional statement to the court. |
| They went through grim details of the brutal killings and their decision to reload their shotguns and keep shooting their parents at point-blank range in the living room of their home. The siblings were aged 18 and 21 at the time. | They went through grim details of the brutal killings and their decision to reload their shotguns and keep shooting their parents at point-blank range in the living room of their home. The siblings were aged 18 and 21 at the time. |
| "I had to stop being selfish and immature to really understand what my parents went though in those last moments," Erik Menendez, 54, told the court. | "I had to stop being selfish and immature to really understand what my parents went though in those last moments," Erik Menendez, 54, told the court. |
| He described the "shock, confusion and betrayal" they must have felt seeing their sons holding guns and opening fire. | He described the "shock, confusion and betrayal" they must have felt seeing their sons holding guns and opening fire. |
| When might the Menendez brothers be released? | |
| Both apologised for their actions and talked about their hopes of working with sex abuse victims and helping those incarcerated if they were given a second chance outside prison. | Both apologised for their actions and talked about their hopes of working with sex abuse victims and helping those incarcerated if they were given a second chance outside prison. |
| The voice of Lyle Menendez, 57, cracked as he talked about the impact of his "unfathomable" actions on their relatives. | The voice of Lyle Menendez, 57, cracked as he talked about the impact of his "unfathomable" actions on their relatives. |
| "I lied to you and forced you into a spotlight of public humiliation," he said to his family. | "I lied to you and forced you into a spotlight of public humiliation," he said to his family. |
| Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said the decision to resentence the pair was "monumental" and carried "significant implications for the families involved". | Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said the decision to resentence the pair was "monumental" and carried "significant implications for the families involved". |
| Much of the hearing centred on what the brothers have been doing in prison for the last 30 years. | Much of the hearing centred on what the brothers have been doing in prison for the last 30 years. |
| Family members and those who worked with them in prison detailed the educational courses they completed and programmes they created to improve the lives of inmates, including a hospice initiative for the elderly and sick. | Family members and those who worked with them in prison detailed the educational courses they completed and programmes they created to improve the lives of inmates, including a hospice initiative for the elderly and sick. |
| Judge Jesic called the brothers' work while in prison "remarkable", but noted that their 1996 sentences to life without parole were justified at the time. | Judge Jesic called the brothers' work while in prison "remarkable", but noted that their 1996 sentences to life without parole were justified at the time. |
| He said that under the guidelines, they were eligible for resentencing, issuing his new sentence of 50 years to life. The brothers have been held in custody since 1990. | He said that under the guidelines, they were eligible for resentencing, issuing his new sentence of 50 years to life. The brothers have been held in custody since 1990. |
| 'A great day' | 'A great day' |
| As the judge continued reading, the brothers smiled and waved to their attorneys and family members who crowded into the courtroom. Family members embraced with smiles. | As the judge continued reading, the brothers smiled and waved to their attorneys and family members who crowded into the courtroom. Family members embraced with smiles. |
| "Today is a great day," defence lawyer Mark Geragos told reporters outside court. He said they were "one huge step closer to bringing the boys home". | "Today is a great day," defence lawyer Mark Geragos told reporters outside court. He said they were "one huge step closer to bringing the boys home". |
| Anamaria Baralt, the brothers' cousin who testified inside court earlier in the day, said their family was elated. | Anamaria Baralt, the brothers' cousin who testified inside court earlier in the day, said their family was elated. |
| "It is a difficult process," she said of the parole hearing that awaits the brothers, but noted they will "eagerly step through those doors if it means we can have them home". | "It is a difficult process," she said of the parole hearing that awaits the brothers, but noted they will "eagerly step through those doors if it means we can have them home". |
| Watch: "Redemption is possible" - Family and attorney of Menendez brothers react to resentencing | Watch: "Redemption is possible" - Family and attorney of Menendez brothers react to resentencing |
| Inside court earlier, relatives pleaded with the judge to allow the siblings' release. | Inside court earlier, relatives pleaded with the judge to allow the siblings' release. |
| Ms Baralt, who said she has been close with them since they were children, told the judge they deserved a "second chance at life". | Ms 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." |
| Ms Baralt told the court she speaks with the brothers frequently and testified that they had taken "ownership of their actions". | Ms Baralt told the court she speaks with the brothers frequently and testified that they had taken "ownership of their actions". |
| Prosecutors claim retaliation by new LA DA over Menendez brothers support | Prosecutors claim retaliation by new LA DA over Menendez brothers support |
| What is the controversy around Netflix's Menendez drama? | What is the controversy around Netflix's Menendez drama? |
| She said Lyle Menendez had acknowledged to her he had asked a witness to lie when testifying at their previous trial. | She said Lyle Menendez had acknowledged to her he had asked a witness to lie when testifying at their previous trial. |
| But she added: "They are very different men from the boys they were." | But she added: "They are very different men from the boys they were." |
| The judge also heard from a retired Florida judge - who said he has never testified on behalf of any criminal defendant - and Anerae "X-Raided" Brown, a rapper who was in prison with both brothers and credits their help for his release. | The judge also heard from a retired Florida judge - who said he has never testified on behalf of any criminal defendant - and Anerae "X-Raided" Brown, a rapper who was in prison with both brothers and credits their help for his release. |
| The district attorney's office, which fiercely opposes the brothers being released, questioned each witness about Erik and Lyle Menendez's "litany of lies" they have clung to since the murders. | The district attorney's office, which fiercely opposes the brothers being released, questioned each witness about Erik and Lyle Menendez's "litany of lies" they have clung to since the murders. |
| Menendez brothers, Erik, left, and Lyle on the steps of their Beverly Hills home in November 1989 | Menendez brothers, Erik, left, and Lyle on the steps of their Beverly Hills home in November 1989 |
| Prosecutors said they lied to law enforcement immediately after the crimes, lied to family members about their guilt and gave false evidence at their trials. | Prosecutors said they lied to law enforcement immediately after the crimes, lied to family members about their guilt and gave false evidence at their trials. |
| Prosecutors have said the brothers have continued to "make excuses" for their conduct instead of taking full responsibility. | Prosecutors have said the brothers have continued to "make excuses" for their conduct instead of taking full responsibility. |
| "There's no doubt they've done all these positive things in prison," Deputy District Attorney Habib Balian said in his closing argument. | "There's no doubt they've done all these positive things in prison," Deputy District Attorney Habib Balian said in his closing argument. |
| But, he added, when reversing a jury's unanimous verdict in such a brutal murder case, it's important to "make certain they are truly rehabilitated". | But, he added, when reversing a jury's unanimous verdict in such a brutal murder case, it's important to "make certain they are truly rehabilitated". |
| The case was thrust back into the spotlight after a new Netflix drama, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, as well as the release of docudrama, The Menendez Brothers. | The case was thrust back into the spotlight after a new Netflix drama, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, as well as the release of docudrama, The Menendez Brothers. |
| It introduced the case to a new generation and garnered attention from celebrities - including Kim Kardashian and Rosie O'Donnell - who called for the brothers to be released. The previous district attorney, George Gascón, backed their resentencing bid, allowing the effort to go before a judge. | It introduced the case to a new generation and garnered attention from celebrities - including Kim Kardashian and Rosie O'Donnell - who called for the brothers to be released. The previous district attorney, George Gascón, backed their resentencing bid, allowing the effort to go before a judge. |
| What happens next? | What happens next? |
| The next step for the brothers will be the California parole board. | The next step for the brothers will be the California parole board. |
| The board has already been vetting the siblings after a request by Governor Gavin Newsom. The governor is separately weighing a request from the brothers for clemency, which could take the form of a reduced sentence or a pardon - if approved. | The board has already been vetting the siblings after a request by Governor Gavin Newsom. The governor is separately weighing a request from the brothers for clemency, which could take the form of a reduced sentence or a pardon - if approved. |
| A risk assessment has been completed on the brothers as part of their request for clemency. The district attorney said it indicated a "moderate risk of violence". However, the full report has not been released. | A risk assessment has been completed on the brothers as part of their request for clemency. The district attorney said it indicated a "moderate risk of violence". However, the full report has not been released. |
| Newsom asked the parole board to conduct a risk assessment, which has already been drafted, that examines whether they pose a risk to the general public if released. | Newsom asked the parole board to conduct a risk assessment, which has already been drafted, that examines whether they pose a risk to the general public if released. |
| The state's parole board is set to conduct a separate hearing on 13 June for the brothers. | The state's parole board is set to conduct a separate hearing on 13 June for the brothers. |
| It's unclear what could come at the hearing, or if there might be multiple hearings vetting their potential release. | It's unclear what could come at the hearing, or if there might be multiple hearings vetting their potential release. |