California justice rejects new trial for the Menéndez brothers after three decades in prison

California. – California's justice system dismissed this Tuesday the request of the Menéndez brothers, Lyle and Erik Menéndez, who are serving 50-year sentences, to access a new trial in the emblematic case for the murder of their parents, José and Kitty Menéndez. The brothers, who have been serving sentences of 50 years to life since the 1990s, filed the defense request in 2023 and it was based on two main elements: the statement of Roy Rossello, former member of the group Menudo, who in a docuseries claimed to have been a victim of sexual abuse by José Menéndez, and a letter written in 1988 by Erik to his cousin, Andy Cano, in which he referred to alleged abuse. However, Judge William Ryan concluded that none of this evidence was solid enough to reopen the case. In his ruling, Ryan explained that the so-called "Cano Letter" only confirms that Erik and Cano discussed abuse, but does not provide relevant information about the mental state of the accused at the time of the homicides. Furthermore, he noted that the content of the document "partially contradicts previous testimonies," which makes it an unfavorable piece for the defense. Regarding Rossello's statement, the magistrate emphasized that, although he supports the general accusation that José Menéndez may have been abusive, it lacks relevance to demonstrate the immediate fear alleged by the defendants when they committed the crime.

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Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman celebrated the decision and assured that "this petition doesn't even come close to meeting the legal standard for a new trial." He recalled that the Menendez defense focused on self-defense due to sexual abuse, an argument that the jury had already heard and rejected during the original trial. Hochman described the recent request as "a last desperate attempt" to overturn the convictions more than thirty years later. The brothers had already faced another setback last May, when a judge upheld their sentences despite recognizing the work they both do for the benefit of other inmates. A parole hearing held in August was also negative, due to the exposure of regulatory violations, such as the illegal use of cell phones inside prison. The only immediate path for the Menendez brothers is to request a pardon from Governor Gavin Newsom, who has the power to grant clemency at any time. According to current regulations, both could reapply for parole within three years, although the period could be reduced to eighteen months if they maintain exemplary conduct. The Menéndez case, one of the most high-profile cases of the nineties, has held international attention due to the brutality of the crime and the debate over the limits of self-defense against family abuse. Despite the fact that the docuseries “Menéndez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed” in 2023 revived doubts about the past of José Menéndez, the courts have consistently concluded that these new statements do not alter the foundations of the original conviction. Today, more than three decades later, the Menéndez brothers continue to face an adverse judicial horizon, with their only hope placed in an eventual executive clemency or a future review process, while serving their sentences in prison.