() Just a week after the Menendez brothers scored a ‘huge win’ when a California judge ruled that evidence withheld from a jury could have changed the outcome of the verdict, one of those pieces of evidence is drawing a lot of eyeballs.
Ex-“Menudo” singer Roy Rosselló broke his silence to The U.S. Sun over the weekend that he gave sworn testimony about being raped by the Menendez brothers’ father, Jose Menendez.
“I am proud and happy about the judge’s decision. My testimony was not in vain,” he told the outlet.
Mark Geragos, the Menendez brothers’ lead attorney, says he’s more than optimistic the evidence will help lead to the brothers being released.
“I think the time has come, he said Monday on “Banfield.” “I think the stars are in alignment. I just think it’s which path we go down for them to walk out of prison finally after doing 35 years of tremendous work.”
Garegos added he’s been in contact with the brothers, and says they’re putting in the work, doing what they have to do, and are “serious” about what’s to come next after the recent developments.
The brothers are scheduled to face a parole board next month, something most inmates in state prisons aren’t fortunate enough to do.
“The two of them are working hard, and they are working with one of the best parole lawyers in the game,” Garegos said. “Like I said, we’ve got an embarrassment of riches.”
“Two years ago, more than two years ago, about 27 months ago, when Cliff Gardner, my co-counsel, and we filed this, and whether we decided we never thought that we would be here 27 months later. And so for post-conviction litigation to have this many proverbial irons in the fire is incredibly gratifying. And I really am as hopeful as I’ve ever been.”
As for Nathan Hochman, Los Angeles District Attorney, Garegos acknowledged that he is “perplexed” by his actions.
Judge William Ryan ruled that Hochman must provide an explanation within 30 days about why crucial evidence in their case relating to alleged sexual abuse was withheld from the jury.
“He says he doesn’t see it as a big deal, said Garegos, “and mind you, he did a dog-and-pony show press conference in February.”
“They did as much of a full-throated response, throwing everything at this judge on the informal reply. Everything, whether it was true, untrue, scurrilous or whatever. And the judge still issued the formal order to show cause. If he doesn’t watch out, he’s going to become the Gil Garcetti of his generation,” Garegos said, referring to the former LA district attorney whose first term was dominated by his office’s prosecution of the O. J. Simpson murder case.
