Judge delivers Menendez Brothers bad news in return to courtroom

On By Littum

The Menendez brothers won’t get home in time for Christmas.

ONE California The judge ruled Monday that the Menendez brothers’ plea hearing will be pushed back from Dec. 11 to dates in late January.

The fate of the charges had been up in the air since the prosecutor who called for it, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón, lost his re-election bid earlier this month.

Gascón argued in a letter – and at a subsequent press conference – that the brothers, who shot their parents José and Kitty with shotguns in 1989 but claimed to have been sexually abused by their father, had served enough time for their crime.

Diane Hernandez, niece of Kitty Menendez, arrives at Van Nuys Courthouse West, on the day of a hearing in the case of Erik and Lyle Menendez on whether to reconsider the first degree conviction of the Menendez brothers in Los Angeles on November 25. , 2024.

Diane Hernandez, niece of Kitty Menendez, arrives at Van Nuys Courthouse West, on the day of a hearing in the case of Erik and Lyle Menendez on whether to reconsider the first degree conviction of the Menendez brothers in Los Angeles on November 25. , 2024.

It appears that Erik, 53, and Lyle, 56, will now have to wait to see if the new District Attorney, Nathan Hochman, looks as favorably on their case as his predecessor. The moderate has promised to give the case a thorough review before deciding on outrage. He will be sworn in on December 2.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has so far refused to grant a pardon for the brothers, despite requests from their lawyers. The Democrat said he will allow Hochman to review the case before weighing in.

Joan VanderMolen, the 92-year-old sister of Kitty, spoke in court Monday to ask a judge to free the brothers as soon as possible.

“I love Erik and Lyle and I want them to come home,” she said, according to the judge Black. “They never knew if tonight would be the night they would be raped. It is time for them to come home.”

Monday was set for the first time the brothers were together in court since 1996, but Black reported that their courtroom stream from a San Diego jail failed and they never connected. Loved ones of the duo, including Erik’s wife, Tammi Menendez, were seen outside in and around the Van Nuy courthouse.

Tammi Menendez, Erik Menendez's wife, looks on at Van Nuys Courthouse West, on the day of a hearing in the case of Erik and Lyle Menendez on whether to reconsider the first degree conviction of the Menendez brothers in Los Angeles, California, November 25, 2024.

Tammi Menendez, Erik Menendez’s wife, looks on at Van Nuys Courthouse West, on the day of a hearing in the case of Erik and Lyle Menendez on whether to reconsider the Menendez brothers’ first degree convictions in Los Angeles, California, November 25, 2024.

A lottery was held to determine which 16 members of the public would be admitted to the hearing. Those given a seat were ordered to surrender their mobile phones.

Gascón pointed out last month that the ages of the brothers at the time of the double homicide — ages 21 and 18 — would make them eligible for immediate parole if they were offended.

The brothers have been working on a habeas corpus petition calling for a review. Included in the petition is a letter Erik sent to his cousin months before the murders, alleging his father sexually abused him, as well as separate charges against José brought by former Menudo member Roy Rosselló.