Gavin Newsom Delays Pardon Decision for Menendez Brothers

Plum And Lyle Menendez We will have to wait a little longer to find out whether penalties will be reduced or overturned more than 20 years after their convictions.

Governor of California Gavin Newsom In a statement on Monday, November 18, he announced that he would postpone the decision on whether to do so. give them mercy Until the Los Angeles district attorney reviews the case.

“The governor respects the district attorney’s role in ensuring justice and recognizes that voters have entrusted District Attorney-elect Hochman with this responsibility,” Newsom’s office said in a statement Monday. “The Governor will defer to the incoming prosecutor’s review and analysis of the Menéndez case before issuing any clemency.”

Last month, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon He recommended resentencing Lyle, 56, and Erik, 53, to add the possibility of parole. The brothers are currently serving life sentences for killing their parents in 1989. Kitty And Jose MenendezAfter a conviction in 1996.

Relating to: Extended Family of Menendez Brothers Petition for Their Release: Statement

As new Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman prepares to take office in December, the extended family of Lyle Menéndez and Erik Menéndez is seeking their release from prison. Bryan Freedman, attorney for 24 extended family members of the Menéndez brothers’ parents, Kitty and José Menéndez, issued a statement on behalf of (…).

However, on Election Day Gascón lost his re-election bid and Nathan HochmanHe will be sworn in on December 2. During the prosecutorial debate before the election, Hochman called the timing of Gascón’s interest in the brothers “suspicious,” but He promised to look into the case on time.

Hochman said he will make a decision on whether to recommend resentencing if the case is not resolved at the habeas petition hearing on Nov. 25 (when the judge will hear a motion seeking to vacate the brothers’ first-degree murder convictions). angry trial of brothers It is scheduled for trial on Dec. 11, and Hochman said he plans to ask the court for more time to review the case before that date.

“Because this case is so important to the Menendez brothers, I wouldn’t try to delay it just for the sake of delay,” Hochman said in an interview earlier this month. “This is very important for the family members of the victims. “It is very important to the public to unduly delay the review that people should expect from a district attorney.”

Relating to: Menendez Brothers Had ‘Little Hope’ for Release from Prison Ahead of New Trial

Lyle and Erik Menéndez were granted a new trial but are being realistic about the possibility of being released from prison. “I think saying they’re cautiously optimistic is the best way to put it,” Lyle and Erik’s attorney, Mark Geragos, told Entertainment Tonight on Thursday, October 10. The 67-year-old lawyer noted (…)

While Hochman noted that such a review would require analysis of thousands of pages of transcripts and files, Hochman assured voters he could make a decision relatively quickly.

“Whatever position I ultimately take, people should expect me to think about it for a long time and analyze the evidence,” he explained. “But my 34 years of criminal justice experience, covering hundreds of cases as a prosecutor and defense attorney, allows me to work quickly and quickly, as I have done this type of comprehensive review on many, many cases before.”