LA County District Attorney Shares 'Evidence' in Menendez's Case as He Discusses Sentence CNN

Los Angeles District Attorneys Lyle and Eric Menendez have released new evidence in the case that could possibly lead to a review of their life sentences for murder.

After their first highly publicized trial ended in a mistrial, a jury found the Menendez brothers guilty of murdering their parents, Jose and Kitty, in a second trial in 1996.

Although they did not deny killing their parents, the brothers claimed they acted in self-defense and were sexually abused by their father for life. During the second trial, prosecutors argued that “abuse did not occur” and the judge overseeing the case did not allow much evidence of abuse to be presented, according to the brothers' attorneys.

In July 1996, both men were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Now, more than 35 years after the murders, L.A. District Attorney George Gascon publicly posted a screenshot of a letter the brothers' attorneys argued supported Eric's allegations that he was sexually abused by his father.

On Sunday, Gascon shared an image of the handwritten, unsolicited letter in a post on his social media platform. The letter was written by Eric Menendez and indicated abuse. As of Tuesday, the post was no longer on Gascon's Instagram page.

“I was trying to avoid father. It's still happening Andy but it's worse for me now,” the letter said. “I never know when it's going to happen and it drives me crazy. Every night I wake up thinking he might come.”

An attorney for the Menendez brothers confirmed the authenticity of the letter Gascon posted, saying it was an excerpt from a letter included in a habeas corpus petition filed in LA Superior Court in May 2023, CNN previously reported.

In the petition, attorneys said the letter was written by Eric Menendez to his cousin, Andy Cano, in December 1988 — months before Kitty and Jose were killed. If the letter had been introduced into evidence during the 1996 trial, Menendez's attorneys argued, the jury might have reached a different conclusion.

“Mark and I are certainly pleased that the district attorney is taking the time to look into the merits of the habeas petition,” defense attorney Cliff Gardner said in a statement to CNN, referring to Mark Geragos, who represents the brothers.

“Given today's very different understanding of the devastating effects of sexual and physical abuse on young children (both boys and girls), testimony about Jose Lyle's sexual abuse that was excluded at the second trial and presented in the habeas petition is significant new evidence. , we think resentencing is in the interest of justice,” Gardner said. “The brothers are serving more than 30 years in prison. That's enough.”

CNN has reached out to Gascon's office for comment.

The case is back in the spotlight more than 30 years after the release last month of “Monsters: The Lyle and Eric Menendez Story,” a Netflix series created by popular TV showrunner Ryan Murphy.

This month, Netflix also released a documentary on the Menendez case in which both men discuss what led to the murder.

The families of Eric and Lyle Menendez said they will hold a news conference alongside Gardner and Geragos outside a Los Angeles courthouse on Wednesday in a “strong show of unity.”

Gascon's office has until November 26 to respond to the brothers' petition to challenge the legality of their imprisonment.

At a news conference earlier this month, Gascon said his office had a “moral and ethical obligation” to review the Menendez brothers' case. He is campaigning for re-election this November on a progressive platform that includes sentencing reform.