() Los Angeles County’s district attorney has asked a California judge to deny a petition filed by Erik and Lyle Menendez requesting a new trial.
In a new 132-page response filed Thursday, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman referred to the brothers’ petition as a “Hail Mary effort to obtain a new trial,” adding that it does not come close to “meeting the factual or legal standard to warrant a new trial,” according to CBS News.
The brothers were convicted of fatally shooting their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, at their Beverly Hills home in 1989. They were sentenced to life in prison without parole at ages 18 and 21 and have spent more than 30 years behind bars.
In May, a California judge ruled in favor of resentencing the brothers, opening the possibility for them to potentially secure parole. They were resentenced to 50 years to life in prison. In July, a judge ordered Hochman to explain why crucial evidence in the prosecution’s case relating to alleged sexual abuse was withheld from the jury.
Parole hearings for the brothers are scheduled for Aug. 21 and 22.
In a conversation with Ryan Murphy, who created and produced “Monster: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” for Netflix last year, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signaled he would sign off on paperwork if the parole board recommended the brothers’ release.
