Another hearing in connection with Eric and Lyle Menendez was scheduled to take place Friday morning as the brothers’ defense attorneys are about to kick the entire Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office out of resentment.
The brother’s lawyer, who could attempt to take the parole sentence for his parents’ shotgun murder in Beverly Hills mansion in 1989, accused LA District Attorney Nathan Hochman and his deputy district attorney of having bias.
The brothers’ lead lawyer, Mark Jelagos, argued that “without a rebuttal, conflict of interest is likely to result in the defendant not receiving a fair hearing or fair treatment through all relevant procedures.”
However, the District Attorney’s Office said in response to the submission, “There is absolutely no evidence or clear explanation of unacceptable bias, not to mention conflicts of interest.”
The judge will consider requests from Erik and Lyle Menendez and remove the entire LA County District Attorney’s Office from future responsive hearings. Investigative reporter Eric Leonard reports NBC4 News on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 5pm.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta this week declined a request for defense to remove Hochman and his office from the lawsuit this week, saying that the Menendez brothers’ lawyers were unable to provide evidence that met the “strict standards” for the district attorney’s office-wide rejection.
Justice of Eric and Lyle Coalition said in a statement released Thursday on behalf of a family-led initiative defending the brothers being released from prison that they know the process of rebuttal is “incredibly strict and narrow.”
At the end of the April 17 hearing, when Menendez’s family was crowded, the judge said he hopes his lawyers will discuss the acceptability of the state’s parole board’s risk assessment report involving the brothers on Friday.
The Menendez brothers, who claim the murder took place after years of abuse, including alleged sexual abuse by their father, saw a hearing last month on Zoom from the San Diego prison where they are in prison, but did not make a statement.
No new dates for the starting point hearing have been set yet.
The refusal move by the Menendez brothers’ lawyers is one of two hurdles that need to be cleared before the much-anticipated responsive hearing begins. Judge Michael Jessick also considers the acceptability of a comprehensive risk assessment ordered by the governor’s office.
Risk assessments carried out by public safety and forensic psychology experts are typical procedures when prisoners are involved for parole. The Menendez brothers are not recommended for parole, but Gov. Gavin Newsom said risk assessments have begun to provide transparency and more information before the next step.
Meanwhile, the state’s parole board is scheduled to hold separate hearings for the brothers on June 13th. You can then send the report to Newsom to help you determine whether the two should be tolerated.
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