Los Angeles County District Lawyer Nathan Hochman mentioned he would rethink resentencing Lyle and Erik Menendez provided that the brothers admitted to what he mentioned are a long time of lies, doubling down on his stance in a brand new interview with ABC Information on Wednesday.
“In the event that they sincerely and unequivocally admit for the primary time in over 30 years, the total vary of their felony exercise and all of the lies that they’ve advised about it,” Hochman advised ABC Information chief nationwide correspondent Matt Gutman that he would then be prepared to suggest resentencing.
The remarks come after Hochman introduced final week that he is asking the courtroom to withdraw his predecessor’s movement for resentencing, arguing that the brothers don’t meet the requirements for resentencing or rehabilitation as a result of they “persist in telling these lies for the final over 30 years about their self-defense protection.”
Los Angeles County District Lawyer Nathan Hochman speaks with ABC Information, March 19, 2025.
ABC Information
Requested by Gutman if he has a guidelines of every particular person lie, Hochman mentioned, “I truly do.”
“The essence of that guidelines is that they’d must lastly admit after 30 years, they killed their dad and mom willfully, intentionally and in premeditated trend, not as a result of they believed that their dad and mom have been going to kill them that night time,” Hochman mentioned.
Hochman mentioned his workplace has recognized 20 lies that they’ve advised because the day of the homicide, and that the brothers have admitted to 4 of them whereas there are 16 further lies “which are the essence of their self-defense” that stay unacknowledged.
The brothers are serving life with out the potential of parole for the 1989 shotgun murders of their dad and mom, Kitty and Jose Menendez.
Requested if he believes the brothers should die in jail, Hochman mentioned, “My private perception is totally irrelevant.”
“What I do is I comply with the information and the regulation in every case,” he mentioned.
Hochman deflected on whether or not the brothers have been definitively sexually abused by their father, as they, and surviving relations have said for many years. However Hochman careworn that intercourse abuse was by no means their protection.
This mixture of two reserving pictures supplied by the California Division of Corrections reveals Erik Menendez, left, and Lyle Menendez.
California Dept. of Corrections through AP
“There was no further corroboration of anybody in 12 years — whether or not it was one other grownup, a pal, a coach, a instructor — who reported on any recipient info that the sexual abuse occurred throughout these 12 years. However was there proof introduced at trial? Sure. Was it the protection that the Menendezes used to first-degree homicide? Completely not,” Hochman mentioned. “That’s what we’ve got centered on.”
Menendez relations who need the brothers launched have mentioned the brothers endured horrific abuse, have admitted guilt and apologized, and have pushed again in opposition to Hochman’s insistence that the brothers weren’t sexually abused, with one cousin calling the district lawyer’s tone “hostile, dismissive and patronizing.”
Requested by Gutman if he understands the household’s want to have the brothers launched, Hochman mentioned, “I do.”
“I do completely see the sincerity of their perception, that they need the Menendez brothers out. 100%,” he mentioned.
A listening to on the Los Angeles County District Lawyer’s Workplace’s movement to withdraw the resentencing petition is scheduled for April 11.
Relying on what the courtroom decides then, a resentencing listening to could also be set for April 17 and April 18, the district lawyer’s workplace mentioned.
On whether or not he would enchantment if the decide decides that the brothers needs to be seen by a parole board, starting the pathway for resentencing, Hochman mentioned, “We would definitely have a look at the decide’s justification for any resentencing, and if the decide does his job and appears in any respect the components and reaches a unique conclusion than us, however one which the regulation additionally would assist, we’d not be able to enchantment that.”
If the case strikes ahead, a parole board would submit their suggestion to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who can then settle for or reverse their suggestion, or have your entire parole board weigh in, Hochman mentioned.
Hochman initially introduced the transfer to withdraw the movement for resentencing on March 10, calling the brothers’ claims of self-defense a part of a litany of “lies.” Following the press briefing, Lyle Menendez posted on Fb that “of all these ‘lies’ [Hochman] talked about, a number of of them have been admitted/stipulated to within the first trial. … And a number of other different ‘lies’ have been completely disproven or moderately disputed.”
Hochman’s predecessor, George Gascón, introduced in October that he supported resentencing for the brothers. Gascón advisable their sentences of life with out the potential of parole be eliminated, and mentioned they need to as an alternative be sentenced for homicide, which might be a sentence of fifty years to life. As a result of each brothers have been below 26 on the time of the crimes, they might be eligible for parole instantly with the brand new sentence.
The DA’s workplace mentioned on the time that its resentencing suggestions have in mind many components, together with rehabilitation in jail and abuse or trauma that contributed to the crime. Gascón praised the work Lyle and Erik Menendez did behind bars to rehabilitate themselves and assist different inmates.
Weeks after Gascón’s announcement, he misplaced his race for reelection to Hochman. When Hochman got here into workplace on Dec. 3, he promised to evaluate all of the information earlier than reaching his personal determination.
Apart from resentencing, the brothers have been pursuing two different paths to freedom.
One is their habeas corpus petition, which they filed in 2023 for a evaluate of two new items of proof not introduced at trial: a letter Erik Menendez wrote to his cousin eight months earlier than the murders detailing his alleged abuse from his father, and allegations from a former boy band member who revealed in 2023 that he was raped by Jose Menendez.
Hochman introduced in February that he is requested the courtroom to disclaim the habeas corpus petition, arguing the brand new proof is not credible or admissible.
The third path to freedom is thru the brothers’ request for clemency, which has been submitted to Newsom.
On Feb. 26, Newsom introduced that he is ordering the parole board to conduct a 90-day “complete threat evaluation” investigation into whether or not the brothers pose “an unreasonable threat to the general public” in the event that they’re granted clemency and launched.
