The highly anticipated resentencing of Lyle and Erik Menendez over the killing of their parents has been delayed again, this time for nearly two months, because of the devastating wildfires in southern California.
Authorities announced on Friday that the hearing planned for 30 and 31 January has been pushed to 20 and 21 March because the wildfires have interfered with preparations. The hearing had already been delayed from November.
The fires have now spread to more than 40,000 acres – larger than the land area of Washington DC – with the flames being fanned by a fierce windstorm known as the Santa Ana winds.
As of Wednesday morning, at least 25 lives had been lost, more than 12,000 homes and structures destroyed and hundreds of thousands of residents placed under evacuation orders. All manner of public services have been shut down, with multiple community drives put in place to help those affected.
Prior to the announcement that the resentencing hearing would be postponed, Los Angeles County district attorney Nathan Hochman said he had met with the brothers’ family earlier this month.
The pair were convicted in 1989 of killing their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. They were sentenced to life in prison without parole and are now in their fifties.
They asked that the sentence be reconsidered after new evidence of their father’s sexual abuse emerged in their case. A recent Netflix drama series and documentary also brought renewed public interest.
In October 2024, then district attorney George Gascon recommended the brothers be resentenced to 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible for parole. Hochman, who was running against Gascon, called it a “desperate political move.”
Additional reporting by AP
