Key players in Menendez brothers’ rampage that could free killers by Thanksgiving

The Menendez brothers’ legal team expressed hope that the two inmates could be home with their families by Thanksgiving. angry push We overcame a big hurdle last week.

That timeline is unlikely, experts say, but the brothers could very well be released despite exhausting all appeals years ago and being sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Erik and Joseph “Lyle” Menendez claim they shot their father, former RCA Records executive Jose Menendez, in self-defense after warning him that they planned to expose him, saying they thought he was going to kill them. child sexual abuser. They also killed their mother, Mary “Kitty” Menendez, who was eating ice cream and watching television next to Jose during the ambush. The brothers ran out of bullets and reloaded before returning to finish him off.

Watch on Fox Nation: The Menendez Brothers: Victims or Villains?

The first major hurdle in their quest for reduced sentences was Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, who acknowledged their arguments and asked a judge to hear them in court last week.

But there is a good chance he will lose his re-election bid on Tuesday and be removed from office before a retrial hearing in December.

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Timeline of the Menendez Brothers Murder Case

Here are the remaining key players they need to convince to give them freedom:

Mark Geragos

The brothers’ defense attorney has been working overtime to free them since late last year. In addition to angry pressure, he took action with a habeas corpus petition and also petitioned the governor for clemency.

If he were successful in any of these three efforts, the high-profile attorney in California would be able to win the freedom of his clients.

Nathan Hochman

The former federal prosecutor will be Gascon’s opponent on Election Day. Recent polls show a significant lead, and if he wins, he will run the office during the retrial.

A source familiar with Hochman’s thinking told Fox News Digital that, if elected, he would likely ask the judge to delay the hearing so he can get used to the case. The hearing will be held on December 11, and the new prosecutor will be sworn in just two days before.

The Menendez Brothers Are One Step Closer to Avoiding ‘Life Without Parole’ for Their Parents’ Beverly Hills Murders

His campaign has not committed to releasing or keeping the Menendez brothers in prison. He could pick up where Gascón left off and seek resentencing, ask the judge to withdraw the previous administration’s request for resentencing, or file additional briefs to give the judge more material to work with while the court considers the matter.

“As a candidate, Nathan has made clear that he will approach every case with the rigor and honesty that every victim and defendant deserves,” campaign spokesman Stuart Pfeifer told Fox News Digital. “This involves a thorough review of the facts and law before making any findings.”

Hochman does not have access to all case files unless he is in the office.

“Nathan understands how important this case is to many Angelenos, and as district attorney he will certainly give this case the attention it deserves and ensure justice and justice are administered,” Pfeifer said.

Judge Michael Jesic

The judge had previously scheduled a conference in late November and a retrial on December 11.

Gascón asked him to sentence the brothers to 50 years to life in prison for killing their parents. Doing so will make them eligible for immediate parole, but they will not be immediately released while the sentence is served.

California Parole Board

If the brothers’ sentences are commuted, the state will have six months to hold parole hearings for them. These hearings will take place before a commissioner and deputy commissioner, who will consider a range of factors and make recommendations whether to keep the brothers locked up or release them.

If they approve parole, their findings will go to the governor for review, and the governor will have 120 days to respond.

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Governor Gavin Newsom

Newsom, who has used both methods on parole requests during his years in office, will have the final say.

If the parole board approves the brothers’ release, Newsom will have several options. He could accept this, paving the way for their freedom. It could overrule the parole board. It can send cases back for further review, reconsideration or even a new parole hearing.

If Newsom vetoes the parole board’s decision to release the brothers, Newsom may try to sue him, according to Los Angeles deputy district attorney John Lewin. Prisoners saw mixed results in such situations.

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But if the parole board denies release, Newsom could still allow the brothers to go free.

Their lawyer, Mark Geragos, asked the governor for clemency on their behalf earlier this week, and Gascón sent separate letters of support, one for each brother, urging the governor to commute their sentences and release them.

Newsom declined to comment on the pardon applications last week.

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A spokesman said these were confidential and could not be discussed on a case-by-case basis.

Milton Andersen

The Menendez brother’s 90-year-old uncle is vehemently opposed to their release, unlike their mother’s brother and most of their relatives.

Andersen’s attorney had already asked the judge to reject the brothers’ claims for new evidence that could support their father’s claim that they were a child molester.

“Milton Andersen continues to believe that the allegations of abuse are fabricated and false, and he believes that the correct verdict was made by the jury, as well as the correct sentence,” said his attorney, Kathleen Cady. he said. Fox News Digital last week. “One of the concerns for him, and really what should have been for everyone, was at the trial, where the Menendez brothers tried to get two specific witnesses to come and lie on their behalf. And those witnesses testified and they said, ‘Yes. They asked us to lie on their behalf.’

Separately, the brothers have a habeas petition through the court system, which could lead to reduced sentences or even freedom without resentencing or pardon processes.

Original article source: Key players in Menendez brothers’ rampage that could free killers by Thanksgiving