Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said he does not believe that Erik and Lyle Menendez are a danger to society. The br...
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said he does not believe that Erik and Lyle Menendez are a danger to society.
The brothers have been in prison for the past three decades after being convicted of the first-degree murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, at their Beverly Hills home in 1989. Gascón says he has been reviewing the evidence, including new revelations, to make his recommendation about a possible resentencing. The two brothers were sentenced to life in prison at their second trial after the first ended in a mistrial.
A judge will make the final decision on what happens to the Menendez brothers now.
“Based on everything that I know, I don’t believe that they are [a threat to society],” Gascón told People in an interview published Tuesday. “Quite frankly, they probably haven’t been for a very long time, if they ever were. I think this is not like they were going around killing people or robbing people on the street.”
Many supporters of the brothers argue that the charges should be downgraded to manslaughter due to accusations of sexual molestation at the hands of their father.
“There are some people in my office that believe that there is no evidence of molestation. I don’t agree with that, but that’s certainly the position that some people have taken, and they believe that they should stay in prison the rest of their life,” Gascón told the outlet. “There are other people in the office that believe that there’s probably some evidence of molestation and there is additionally evidence of rehabilitation. So, I mean, certainly we have some issues.”
“If in fact they have rehabilitated as is being alleged, and we’re reviewing all of that, they have been in prison for almost 35 years,” he continued.
“Thirty-five years is a long time to be in prison. And especially when you look at the circumstances behind this case, it just seems to me that at some point there has to be a place for redemption and rehabilitation. But again, whether I believe that they should or shouldn’t be in prison the rest of their life, it’s not necessarily what is going to alter my final decision. My final decision is going to be really evaluating the law.”
Menendez family members held a press conference outside the DA’s office last week, pleading for the sentences to be reevaluated, as The Daily Wire previously reported.
Gascón said at an unrelated news conference Tuesday night that he would make a decision on a resentencing recommendation by the end of this week. The next court date for the Menendez brothers is slated for November 26.
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