Thirty-five years after the Menendez brothers shot their parents to death, they may be granted a resentencing due to increased media attention and public interest in true crime cases. The brothers, Erik and Lyle Menendez, were convicted in 1989, with their claims of abuse by their parents largely excluded from evidence in their retrial. Recent true crime documentaries about the case, including one on Netflix, have sparked renewed interest in their story and a push for potential release.
Other cases affected by true crime content include Adnan Syed, whose conviction was overturned after the “Serial” podcast raised questions about his case, and Robert Durst, whose HBO documentary led to a confession in a murder case. Brandon Dassey, from “Making a Murderer,” also had his conviction overturned and then reinstated following public scrutiny of his confession.
The Menendez brothers’ original trial featured allegations of horrific abuse by their parents, which their attorneys argued led to the killings in self-defense. The case has been dramatized in recent documentaries and TV series, leading to calls for reconsideration of their sentence. Kim Kardashian has even penned an opinion piece advocating for their release, citing new evidence of abuse and a lack of awareness of sexual abuse against boys in their original trial. Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón has announced his support for resentencing based on new evidence of abuse in the case.
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