Menendez brothers' kin seek release from California prison

The Manila Times

Menendez brothers' kin seek release from California prison  Relatives of Lyle and Erik Menendez, brothers imprisoned for life for killing their parents more than three decades ago, say on Oct. 16, 2024 (local time) they were meeting with prosecutors to request the men be freed. Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon said this month that his office was reviewing new evidence that could lead to the release or a new trial of the brothers, who have long said they killed their parents at their Beverly Hills home because of sexual abuse they endured at their hands. The brothers are serving life in prison without parole for the 1989 shotgun murders of their parents.  REUTERS VIDEO  Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe    Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net    Follow us:  Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook  Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram  Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter  DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion    Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital    Check out our Podcasts:  Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify  Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts  Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic  Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer  Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein   #TheManilaTimes #tmtnews #menendezbrothers

Transcript

00:00For many years, I struggled to terms with what happened to my sister's family.

00:11It was a nightmare none of us could have imagined, but as details of Lyle and Eric's abuse came

00:20to light, it became clear that their actions, while tragic, were the desperate response

00:28of two boys trying to survive the unspeakable cruel of their father.

00:36As their aunt, I had no idea of the extent of the abuse they suffered at the hands of

00:45my brother-in-law.

00:46None of us did, but looking back, I can see the fear and tension that their father had

00:54instilled on them.

00:56They were just children, children who could have been protected and were instead brutalized

01:03in the most horrific ways.

01:11The truth is Lyle and Eric were failed by the very people who should have protected

01:15them, by their parents, by the system, by society at large.

01:26She can't be with us today due to health challenges, but she sent me this.

01:43If Lyle and Eric's case were heard today, with the understanding we now have about abuse

01:51and PTSD, there is no doubt in my mind that their sentencing would have been very different.

01:56And yet, despite their circumstances, they have chosen a life of light.

02:01Without hope of release, they persevered.

02:04They have sought to better themselves and serve as a support and inspiration for survivors

02:10all over the world.

02:11Their continued incarceration serves no rehabilitative purpose.

02:21Now here we are, both sides of the family united, sharing a new bond of hope.

02:27Hope that with the re-examination of their case, a new outcome will be reached.

02:32Hope that this 34-year nightmare will end and that we will be reunited as a family.

02:38I am here to ask the district attorney's office to take into account the full picture,

02:43the truth that was hidden for so long.

02:46Lyle and Eric deserve a chance to heal, and our family deserves a chance to heal with

02:51them.

02:59What happened is tragic, but I forgive my cousins.

03:03I have forgiven them forever because I know they were acting out of fear and desperation.

03:11These were children, just six and eight years old, who didn't understand their own bodies.

03:20No child should ever have to endure that kind of pain.

03:26This abuse trapped them.

03:27It was painful and it terrified them.

03:31Their father's abuse shattered their lives and the family's lives, and the courts failed

03:37them, failed to recognize their trauma compounding this tragedy.

04:01Lyle and Eric have spent most of their lives in prison, paying for their actions.

04:19During that time, they have become supporters and advocates for children who have suffered

04:25sexual violence.

04:28I believe they have suffered enough.

04:31I ask the district attorneys to take into account the whole truth and nothing but the

04:39truth.

04:41I believe they have paid for their crimes, and we as a family have all suffered enough.

04:47We are here for them and ready to support Eric and Lyle after release.

04:53They had resigned themselves to being in prison for the rest of their lives.

04:58You can take two tracks of evidence in my practice, and I would dare say it anywhere,

05:04that 20 family members of...

05:06We filed originally for the conviction to be overturned.

05:10That's what a writ of habeas corpus is.

05:12The other component of this is a resentencing, so it's two tracks.

05:17You can pause the habeas while you consider the resentencing.

05:22You can do what they've done, which is create programs, counsel people, develop amazing

05:28programs, mentoring people, go to college, get...

05:32Is that speaker a little louder now?

05:34Is that speaker a little louder than it was?

06:08Is that speaker a little louder?

06:38Is that speaker a little louder than it was?

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