NewsBite

Bombshell note that could see Menendez brothers freed

New evidence in the form of a damning letter has been posted online – and then quickly deleted – in the Menendez brothers murder case, which could see them released from jail.

Kim Kardashian has backed the Menendez brothers in an open letter

The Los Angeles district attorney has publicly released a letter he cited as “new evidence” in the infamous Erik and Lyle Menendez case — as he considers whether to review the brothers’ life sentences for murdering their parents in 1989.

Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón posted — but quickly deleted — a screenshot of the letter Erik Menendez had written to his cousin more than three decades ago alleging he’d been abused by his father, CNN reported.

Lyle and Erik Menendez could be freed from jail. Picture: Supplied
Lyle and Erik Menendez could be freed from jail. Picture: Supplied

“I’ve been trying to avoid dad. Its still happening Andy but its worse for me now,” the letter states.

“I never know when its going to happen and its driving me crazy. Every night I stay up thinking he might come in.”

The brothers’ legal team have long argued the letter backs up Erik’s claims that he was sexually abused by his father as a child.

The district attorney’s office deleted the post as it emerged relatives of the Menendez brothers had been invited to attend a press conference scheduled for 1pm Wednesday (7am Thursday AEDT).

Erik and Lyle Menendez were jailed for the 1989 murders of their parents, Kitty and Jose. Picture: Supplied
Erik and Lyle Menendez were jailed for the 1989 murders of their parents, Kitty and Jose. Picture: Supplied

MURDER CASE TWIST COULD SEE BROTHERS FREED

The extended Menendez family is hopeful the District Attorney will finally recommend that the brothers be re-sentenced after spending more than three decades jailed for murdering parents Jose and Kitty Menendez in their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989.

The potential update comes weeks after Mr Gascón announced his office was reviewing new evidence of alleged molestation in the case to determine whether the brothers should continue serving life sentences without parole …

It comes after the new evidence was revealed in the Netflix series, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, and Kim Kardashian penned an op-ed calling for their life sentences to be “reconsidered”.

Earlier, Mr Gascón invited several relatives of the Menendez brothers to attend the event at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Centre courthouse on Thursday, according to a source with knowledge of the plan.

Lyle and Erik Menendez murdered their parents in 1989 and were convicted in 1996. Picture: Getty Images
Lyle and Erik Menendez murdered their parents in 1989 and were convicted in 1996. Picture: Getty Images
Nicholas Chavez as Lyle Menendez and Cooper Koch as Erik Menendez in the Netflix series, Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story. Picture: Supplied
Nicholas Chavez as Lyle Menendez and Cooper Koch as Erik Menendez in the Netflix series, Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story. Picture: Supplied

The brothers’ aunt Joan VanderMolen said Mr Gascón had invited several family members including her children, Diane, Arnie, and Kathy VanderMolen; and her grandson Erik VanderMolen, according to Vanity Fair, who first reported on the press conference.

Erik, 53, and Lyle, 56, were aged 12 and 18-years-old respectively when they shot their father, José, six times in the back of the head and their mother, Kitty, 10 times, including in the face.

Kitty’s brothers, Milton Andersen and Brian Andersen, are not expected to appear. They reportedly don’t believe that the boys were sexually abused by their father.

The Netflix documentary unearthed a newly discovered letter one of the brothers sent to a relative months before the murders, describing his father’s alleged sexual abuse, as well as allegations by former boy band member Roy Rossello, who alleged in a docuseries last year that José drugged and raped him as a teenager in the 1980s.

Mr Gascón previously said they were not ready to say whether they believed the information, but that they had a “moral and ethical obligation” to take a look at the newly-presented evidence.

A press conference attended by family ahead of a hearing on the matter, scheduled for November 29, local time, suggests Mr Gascón plans to announce his recommendation on re-sentencing.

Originally published as Bombshell note that could see Menendez brothers freed

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/world/menendez-murder-case-twist-could-see-brothers-freed/news-story/97c7be14805e558c56caff1f59833559