The Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik, who were convicted of the 1989 murder of their parents, are set to face a June 13 parole hearing following California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office’s decision to convert their clemency request into a parole proceeding. This decision allows the brothers, who have spent 35 years in prison, a chance for early release. Newsom’s office confirmed the change, emphasizing the shift aligns with the parole board’s recommendation.
The brothers’ path to freedom took another turn as Newsom withdrew his request for a clemency investigation, making the June 13 hearing their chance for parole. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation stated the June 13 clemency hearing is now being converted into an initial parole suitability hearing. Lyle Menendez commented on the move, stating the situation remains fluid. He posted on his Facebook page confirming the governor’s withdrawal of the clemency request and announced the June 13 hearing as the new format.
Besides this, in a bombshell decision on Tuesday, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic slashed the Menendez brothers’ original life-without-parole terms to 50 years-to-life, making them eligible for parole. The judge did not suggest they should be released but noted the possibility of a parole hearing. The brothers’ case gained momentum with a recent court decision that reduced their original life-without-parole terms to 50 years-to-life, making them eligible for parole.
Previously, the brothers’ lawyer, Mark Geragos, had filed clemency documents with Newsom after former Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón requested a judge to reduce their sentences. Newsom’s office described the assessment as a