A Superior Court Judge has ordered Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman to explain why key evidence was not presented to the jury in the second trial of Erik and Lyle Menendez. The Menendez brothers were convicted in 1996 for the murder of their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, in Beverly Hills.
The ruling follows a habeas corpus motion filed by the brothers’ lawyers, who argue that evidence supporting their claims of sexual abuse by their father was withheld. Judge William Ryan identified two critical pieces of evidence that could have potentially altered the trial’s outcome. The first is a letter from Erik Menendez to his cousin Andy Cano, which allegedly supports Cano’s testimony and the brothers’ allegations of abuse. The second is a declaration from Roy Rossello, a former member of the band Menudo, who claims he was raped by José Menendez.
According to L.A. Mag, Hochman contends that these pieces of evidence do not qualify as “new evidence,” but Judge Ryan disagreed. He has given the prosecutors thirty days to provide a justification.
The Menendez brothers have long maintained that their actions were a result of years of abuse, a claim that was central to their defense during the trial. The recent court decision may pave the way for a reevaluation of their case, potentially impacting their convictions.
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