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| Prison conduct and contraband: Four things we learned from Erik Menendez's parole hearing | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The younger Menendez appeared virtually for Thursday's hearing | The younger Menendez appeared virtually for Thursday's hearing |
| Erik Menendez's lengthy parole hearing in California on Thursday contained several insights into his time behind bars - some of which factored into the board's decision to refuse his request for release. | Erik Menendez's lengthy parole hearing in California on Thursday contained several insights into his time behind bars - some of which factored into the board's decision to refuse his request for release. |
| Along with his brother Lyle, Erik has spent decades behind bars for the shotgun killings of his wealthy parents in 1989, which was also discussed at the hearing. The brothers claimed self-defence, and have long pushed for their freedom. | Along with his brother Lyle, Erik has spent decades behind bars for the shotgun killings of his wealthy parents in 1989, which was also discussed at the hearing. The brothers claimed self-defence, and have long pushed for their freedom. |
| Lyle has a hearing of his own on Friday. Here is some of what we learned about the killings and Erik's time in prison, based on Thursday's hearing, which he attended virtually. | Lyle has a hearing of his own on Friday. Here is some of what we learned about the killings and Erik's time in prison, based on Thursday's hearing, which he attended virtually. |
| Prison behaviour, not killings, prompted refusal | Prison behaviour, not killings, prompted refusal |
| The parole commissioner, Robert Barton, said the main reason for his denial was not the killings themselves, but Menendez's behaviour in prison. | The parole commissioner, Robert Barton, said the main reason for his denial was not the killings themselves, but Menendez's behaviour in prison. |
| Barton rejected any notion that Menendez had been a "model prisoner", though he said he was "gaining insight". There was discussion of Menendez's involvement in fights, drug use and even a tax-fraud scam while linked to a gang. | Barton rejected any notion that Menendez had been a "model prisoner", though he said he was "gaining insight". There was discussion of Menendez's involvement in fights, drug use and even a tax-fraud scam while linked to a gang. |
| Menendez earned Barton's censure over his possession of prohibited materials - in particular his repeated illicit use of a mobile phone. | Menendez earned Barton's censure over his possession of prohibited materials - in particular his repeated illicit use of a mobile phone. |
| "What I got in terms of the phone and my connection with the outside world was far greater than the consequences of me getting caught with the phone," Menendez explained. But he said he had later rethought this view. | "What I got in terms of the phone and my connection with the outside world was far greater than the consequences of me getting caught with the phone," Menendez explained. But he said he had later rethought this view. |
| Full story: Erik Menendez denied parole | Full story: Erik Menendez denied parole |
| The brothers' three paths to freedom | The brothers' three paths to freedom |
| Brothers' family members call for their release | Brothers' family members call for their release |
| Menendez saw father and mother 'as one person' | Menendez saw father and mother 'as one person' |
| Menendez, who was 18 at the time of the crime, was asked why he and brother shot dead their parents rather than simply leave home. | Menendez, who was 18 at the time of the crime, was asked why he and brother shot dead their parents rather than simply leave home. |
| He and his brother have long claimed the killings were a matter of self-defence, as their father was sexually abusing them. | He and his brother have long claimed the killings were a matter of self-defence, as their father was sexually abusing them. |
| "When I look back at the person I was then and what I believed about the world and my parents, running away was inconceivable," Menendez responded. "Running away meant death." | "When I look back at the person I was then and what I believed about the world and my parents, running away was inconceivable," Menendez responded. "Running away meant death." |
| Asked why they killed their mother as well as their father, Menendez said he "saw them as one person" after he learned that his mother was aware of the abuse. | Asked why they killed their mother as well as their father, Menendez said he "saw them as one person" after he learned that his mother was aware of the abuse. |
| Contraband art materials also caused trouble | Contraband art materials also caused trouble |
| As well as the mobile phone, the other contraband goods that Menendez was revealed to have stashed included candles, ingredients for making wine, and art materials. | As well as the mobile phone, the other contraband goods that Menendez was revealed to have stashed included candles, ingredients for making wine, and art materials. |
| The art supplies had been used to decorate his cell, the LA Times reported. | The art supplies had been used to decorate his cell, the LA Times reported. |
| Commenting on the smuggled goods, Barton said Menendez's "institutional misconduct showed a lack of self-awareness". | Commenting on the smuggled goods, Barton said Menendez's "institutional misconduct showed a lack of self-awareness". |
| More than a dozen relatives back brothers' release | More than a dozen relatives back brothers' release |
| Acknowledging the impact of his crimes on his relatives, Menendez told the hearing: "I just want my family to understand that I am so unimaginably sorry for what I have put them through." | Acknowledging the impact of his crimes on his relatives, Menendez told the hearing: "I just want my family to understand that I am so unimaginably sorry for what I have put them through." |
| The number of relatives who want to see the brothers released is now known to be more than a dozen. The group gave statements to that effect. | The number of relatives who want to see the brothers released is now known to be more than a dozen. The group gave statements to that effect. |
| One of them, the brothers' aunt Teresita Menendez-Baralt, tearfully said she forgave the pair for killing her brother. Explaining that she had late-stage cancer, she spoke of her wish to welcome Erik into her home to "wrap my arms around" him before it was too late. | One of them, the brothers' aunt Teresita Menendez-Baralt, tearfully said she forgave the pair for killing her brother. Explaining that she had late-stage cancer, she spoke of her wish to welcome Erik into her home to "wrap my arms around" him before it was too late. |
| Barton acknowledged the support, but told Menendez: "Two things can be true. They can love and forgive you, and you can still be found unsuitable for parole." | Barton acknowledged the support, but told Menendez: "Two things can be true. They can love and forgive you, and you can still be found unsuitable for parole." |
| Watch: Moments from the Menendez brothers trial in 1993 | Watch: Moments from the Menendez brothers trial in 1993 |