Menendez brothers resentenced by California judge to 50 years to life, making them parole eligible

As reported in this Los Angeles Times article, "Erik and Lyle Menendez received a chance at freedom Tuesday after more than 35 years in prison, with an L.A. County judge granting a request to resentence them after hours of emotional testimony from family members who said the brothers had spent enough time behind bars for the brutal 1989 killings of their parents."  Here is more:

Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic said late Tuesday that he would resentence the brothers to 50 years to life, meaning they will be granted a parole hearing at some point in the future. “We are deeply humble and grateful and happy for our family,” Lyle Menendez said in a phone call with one of his attorneys outside the courthouse in Van Nuys, which was relayed to a Times reporter.

Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman argued that the brothers had failed to show proper “insight” into their crimes and had not atoned for lies they told over the last 30 years about the nature of the killings, but Jesic dismissed those arguments as irrelevant . Prosecutors needed to prove the brothers posed an unreasonable risk to the public, according to Jesic, who said they failed to do so.

After deciding they should be resentenced, Jesic allowed each brother to speak to the court over a Zoom call from prison. In tearful addresses that drew sobs from the relatives who have been fighting for their release for years, Erik and Lyle said they took full responsibility for their crimes. ...

Jesic’s decision ended an eight-month saga that started when then-Dist. Atty. George Gascón filed a petition for the brothers to be resentenced late last year, and followed an emotional day of testimony.... The hearing was the culmination of years of advocacy by the family to free the brothers, who were convicted of first-degree murder.

Defense attorney Mark Geragos asked Jesic to resentence the brothers to manslaughter, arguing they shot their parents to death out of fear their father might kill them to cover up years of sexual abuse. But instead, Jesic’s ruling aligned with a request made last year by Gascón.  The reduced sentence of 50 years to life makes them eligible for parole under the state’s youthful offender law because they were under the age of 26 at the time of the murders....

A parole hearing will likely be scheduled in the coming months. But Gov. Gavin Newsom could also grant them clemency if he honors a pending request. A hearing on that matter is currently scheduled for June 13.

California’s resentencing law leans heavily in favor of defendants, a point Jesic reminded the courtroom of early Tuesday. Under state law, Jesic said, he could block a resentencing petition only if the defendant poses an “unreasonable risk of danger to public safety,” meaning there is a risk they will commit another violent crime — such as murder, manslaughter or rape — if they are released.

Some prior related posts:

• Kim Kardashian advocates reconsidering Menendez brothers' LWOP sentences just as Los Angeles DA begins to do so
• LA District Attorney announces that he will seek resentencing for the Menendez brothers
• Continuing coverage and comment on Menendez brothers' possible resentencing 
• California Gov to hold off on Menedez clemency decision pending resentencing review by new DA
• New Los Angeles DA asks to withdraw prior DA's motion for resentencing in Menedez brothers' case 
• Judge rejects new Los Angeles DA's request to revoke predecessor's resentencing petition for Menendez brothers