Erik Menendez, one of many notorious Menendez brothers convicted of killing their mother and father in 1989, has been hospitalised with a severe medical situation, prompting his lawyer to hunt his momentary launch from jail forward of a vital parole listening to subsequent month.
Menendez, 57, has been serving a life sentence with out parole alongside his brother Lyle for the homicide of José and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez of their Beverly Hills mansion. The case gained nationwide consideration within the Nineties resulting from its surprising nature and televised trial, with the brothers claiming they acted in self-defense after enduring years of sexual abuse by their father.
Parole listening to in August
In a latest improvement, a choose resentenced Erik and Lyle to 50 years to life, rendering them instantly eligible for parole. Their hearings are scheduled for August 21 and 22 earlier than the California state parole board. Any resolution to launch them would require remaining approval from Governor Gavin Newsom.
The California Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed that Erik was transferred to an out of doors medical facility on Friday and stays there in “truthful situation.” Whereas the character of his sickness has not been disclosed, lawyer Mark Geragos described it as a “severe medical situation” and is urging authorities to grant Erik a furlough, just like these granted to sure inmates throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Authorized challenges proceed
The hospitalisation and upcoming parole hearings come amid renewed authorized scrutiny of the Menendez case. Simply final week, a Los Angeles choose ordered native prosecutors to justify why the brothers’ convictions shouldn’t be reexamined in mild of newly surfaced proof that will help their long-standing claims of sexual abuse by their father.
The order was issued in response to a habeas corpus petition filed in Could 2023, separate from their resentencing proceedings. Protection attorneys argue that the brand new proof additional substantiates the brothers’ unique protection — that they acted out of worry and trauma, not greed. Prosecutors, nevertheless, have constantly maintained that the murders had been financially motivated.