Menendez brothers prison release not looking so sure fire under new DA family lawyer
Anyone who feared Erik and Lyle Menendez were getting a sweetheart deal can rest easy.A month ago the brothers, convicted of the 1989 murder of their parents Kitty and Jose Menendez, appeared to be on the brink of release as their cases were recommended for resentencing.The Los Angeles County District Attorney at the time, George Gascon, appeared to be going full steam ahead on freeing them.His replacement, Nathan Hochman, who assumed office Dec.3, appears more circumspect.As highlighted in recent Netflix series, “The Menendez Brothers,” the brothers claim they were sexually abused by their father and their lawyers argue that wasn’t taken into account during their trial and should be part of a review of their sentencing.However, an attorney for the Menedez family says Hochman has only met with the brothers’ uncle, Milton Anderson, so far and he is one of the people who believe they should stay in prison.Asked if that is a bad initial sign, family attorney Bryan Freedman told The Post: “It absolutely is.”Freedman also denies reports Hochman has invited members of the family who are supportive of Lyle and Erik’s release to speak with him.In an email to Hochman, Freedman wrote, “I thought you would want to meet with the victims [that is what he calls the 20 family members he represents] that knew Lyle and Erik best over the past 30 years of incarceration.“You had spoken with the one family member who had not interacted with Erik and Lyle over the last 30 years,” referring to Anderson, brother of Kitty.
The brothers admitted during trial that they murdered Kitty, and their father, with a shotgun.Kathy Cady, Anderson’s attorney, stated earlier this year, “He prefers that [the Menendez brothers] stay in prison because he believes that is what justice requires.”Freedman is also concerned two members of the DA’s office who were heading up the efforts to free the Menendez brothers have been removed by Hochman.Nancy Theberge, previous head of Ga...