The Menendez brothers, Erik and Lyle, have filed a motion to disqualify Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman from their resentencing hearing. They argue that Hochman has a conflict of interest that could prevent them from receiving a fair hearing. The brothers, who have served 35 years in prison for the 1989 murders of their parents, claim they acted in self-defense due to years of abuse.
According to ABC7, the motion states that a conflict of interest would likely prevent the defendants from receiving fair treatment. The brothers’ attorney, Mark Geragos, has pointed out that Hochman reassigned prosecutors who were sympathetic to the Menendez brothers and hired an attorney who opposed their resentencing.
The motion is before Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic, who is overseeing the case. A hearing is scheduled for May 9 to determine the admissibility of risk assessment reports that were not reviewed before the April 17 hearing, which was paused to allow time for review.
The Menendez brothers’ legal team argues that Hochman’s actions raise concerns about the fairness of the proceedings. If the motion to disqualify is not granted, Geragos plans to request an evidentiary hearing to demonstrate the conflict of interest.
The brothers’ resentencing efforts began when former DA George Gascón moved to reduce their sentences, but Hochman withdrew this recommendation after taking office. The upcoming hearing will address these issues and the potential for reduced sentences based on new evidence of abuse.
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