Lyle and Erik Menendez will appear in the Van Nuys courthouse Monday for a critical status hearing to decide if their December 11 parole hearing will proceed or be delayed as incoming Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman reviews their case.
Nearly three decades ago, the court sentenced the pair to life without parole, and their lawyers—Mark Geragos and Cliff Gardner—are now asking Judge Michael Jesic to reduce their sentence.
The brothers will appear virtually from the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, according to Lyle's Facebook page run by his wife, Rebecca Sneed.
Many family members will attend to show their support, and some may testify if the court allows it.
The status hearing will begin at 10:30 a.m. PT / 1:30 p.m. ET.
Where Can You Watch the Hearing?
It remains unclear if the hearing will be livestreamed, but Sneed said, "The judge will make his decision when he gets to work."
She continued, "It is our understanding that cameras will not be allowed in the courtroom, however CA Courts do often livestream hearings. Sometimes, it is done so that attorneys and parties can appear virtually; sometimes it is done so that the public can watch; and sometimes it is not done at all."
If the hearing isn't livestreamed, the Associated Press will provide a live stream outside the courthouse.
With just 16 public seats in the courtroom, a lottery will determine who gets in, set to take place outside the Van Nuys courthouse shortly before the hearing.
The courthouse told Newsweek: "There is no remote option for the media or public to observe court proceedings. In addition, the Court will not permit photography, filming, broadcasting or recording for this hearing."
What Did Lyle and Erik Menendez Do?
Lyle and Erik fatally shot their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, 14 times as the couple watched TV in the den of their Beverly Hills home on August 20, 1989.
The brothers shot José five times, including once at point-blank range with a shotgun aimed at the back of his head. As Kitty attempted to crawl away, Lyle shot her in the face. In total, she was shot nine times.
Lyle, who was then 21, and Erik, then 18, admitted to the shootings but said they feared their parents were going to kill them to prevent the disclosure of the father's long-term sexual molestation of Erik.
When Are Lyle and Erik Due Back in Court?
On October 24, Gascón announced plans to recommend the Menendez brothers' life sentences without the possibility of parole be replaced with a 50-year-to-life sentence for murder. He said that they would be eligible for parole immediately due to their age at the time of the crimes.
If the recommendation for resentencing stands, the court has scheduled a hearing for Erik and Lyle on December 11 at the Van Nuys Courthouse, where the brothers were previously tried in 1993 and 1995.
However, Hochman will take office on December 3.
"Once I take office on December 3, I look forward to putting in the hard work to thoroughly review the facts and law of the Menendez case, including reviewing the confidential prison files, the transcripts of the two trials, and the voluminous exhibits as well as speaking with the prosecutors, defense attorneys and victim family members," Hochman said in a statement.
Hochman continued, "This is the same type of rigorous analysis I have done throughout my 34 year career in criminal justice as a prosecutor and defense counsel, and the same type of thorough review that I will give to all cases regardless of media attention."
If Hochman doesn't change Gascón's recommendation or requests more time, the key question will be whether Judge Jesic approves the decision and the parole board agrees to release the brothers.
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