By Stephen Witt
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman (R) last week lauded the California Board of Parole for denying parole in separate hearings for the brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez, who were convicted of first-degree murder for the grisly killing of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills home on Aug. 20, 1989.
“The Parole Board in a separate parole hearing from his brother, conducted by a completely different reviewing commissioner and deputy commissioner, evaluated evidence relating to the murders of Jose and Kitty Menendez and post-conviction evidence specific to him, rightly denied parole to Lyle Menendez,” said Hochman.
“The commissioners concluded that the evidence demonstrated Lyle continues to engage in antisocial behavior through repeated rules violations. I applaud the Board for its thorough and independent review of the evidence
“For decades, Lyle Menendez has refused to accept full responsibility for his actions. Along with his brother, he has clung to a fabricated self-defense story, repeatedly shifting narratives and enlisting others to bolster false claims.
“Although the brothers have participated in rehabilitative programs, rehabilitation is only one factor in determining parole suitability. The rules violations conducted inside prison raises serious concerns about how he might behave if released.”
Hochman said that for more than three decades, both Erik and Lyle Menendez have advanced a false claim of self-defense, alleging they feared their parents were going to kill them, to justify the brutal murders of their parents — including shotgun blasts to their father’s back, a point-blank shot to their mother’s face, and shots to their kneecaps staged to mimic a Mafia killing.
The record shows they suborned perjury, including soliciting others to make false claims that their father violently raped Lyle’s girlfriend and that their mother poisoned the family, the County chief prosecutor said.
“The Board correctly determined that Erik Menendez’s actions speak louder than words, and that his conduct in prison and current mentality demonstrate that he still poses an unreasonable risk of danger to the community. Importantly, the Board did not bow to public spectacle or pressure, a restraint that upholds the dignity and integrity of the justice system,” said Hochman.
Hochman said the parole process is guided by evidence and public safety, not by spectacle, shifting public opinion, or personal agendas.
“After weighing the facts, the Board’s analysis was consistent with that of our office: Both Menendez brothers remain unsuitable for release. Independent psychological evaluations further classify them as presenting a moderate risk,” Hochman said.
While both brothers will again be up for parole in three years, Hochman said his office will continue to attend future hearings to present the facts and advocate for justice and public safety, ensuring that every argument is made with precision and impact, and that the voices of Jose and Kitty Menendez are never forgotten.
