A judge has again delayed the resentencing hearing for Erik and Lyle Menendez, who are currently serving life in prison for the 1989 murder of their parents, after it began this morning in Los Angeles.
The Menendez brothers, who killed their parents Jose and Kitty Menendez in Beverly Hills more than 30 years ago, appeared virtually in Los Angeles court today to determine if they should receive a lesser sentence. But Judge Michael Jesic called for a pause until May 9.
The delay comes after Jesic said the court needs to obtain partially-completed risk assessments on the brothers ordered by California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Prosecutors have seen the partially-completed reports and want to use them, and have called for a delay in the hearing so all parties can consider it. Jesic and defense attorney Mark Geragos both say they haven’t seen the reports.
Geragos says he’s also calling for Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman to be removed from the case.
The brothers’ resentencing hearing has already been delayed several times. The initial hearing in January was delayed due to the Los Angeles fires, and again because prosecutors attempted to withdraw their sentencing request, the Associated Press reports.
Key Points
- Resentencing delayed to May 9
- Defense attorney claims Menendez family re-traumatized by crime scene photos
- Menendez brothers to focus resentencing plea on good behavior, self-help groups
- Prosecutor says Menendez brothers haven't 'fully come clean' and aren't yet ready for resentencing
Menendez brothers' resentencing hearing begins today
Thursday 17 April 2025 15:26 , Katie HawkinsonThe Menendez brothers will appear in Los Angeles court in just over two hours, at 9:30 a.m. local time, for their resentencing hearing.
However, prosecutors have filed a request to delay, arguing that state prison and parole officers first need to complete their risk assessments.
Newsom says these assessments will be ready in mid-June.
The status of that filing, made late Wednesday, is still unclear.
Follow along for live updates from The Independent.
Double murderer Menendez brothers to cite self-help groups in sentence reduction plea
Thursday 17 April 2025 15:28 , Associated PressArrested over 35 years ago, Erik and Lyle Menendez have now spent more of their lives behind bars than free.
The pair were imprisoned for the double murder of their parents in their Beverly Hills home. In the decades since, they have gotten an education, participated in self-help classes and started various support groups for their fellow inmates – all behind bars.
Legal representatives for the brothers now plan to highlight their behaviour during their time in prison as they prepare to plea for a reduced sentence that could lead to their release.
Keep reading:
Double murderer Menendez brothers to cite self-help groups in sentence reduction plea
Why are prosecutors looking to delay the hearing?
Thursday 17 April 2025 15:32 , Katie HawkinsonLos Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman filed a request to delay the Menendez brothers’ resentencing hearing late Wednesday.
Hochman argues that state prison and parole officers must first complete their risk assessments on the brothers.
Those assessments are ongoing and will be completed by June 13, California Governor Gavin Newsom said.
It’s still unclear if the filing will impact today’s hearing.
"The comprehensive risk assessment is not complete and it remains ongoing,” Newsom said in a statement Wednesday. “Per California legal regulations, one component of it has been released to the involved parties for their review 60 days before the clemency hearing, and is subject to correction. Our office notified Judge Jesic of the status of this report, which is not a stand-alone risk assessment, and offered to share it with the court should he request it.”
The twisted truth behind Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story may set brothers free after 35 years
Thursday 17 April 2025 15:45 , Tom MurrayOn the evening of 20 August 1989, José and Kitty Menéndez were watching TV in the den of their Beverly Hills mansion when their two sons, Lyle and Erik, entered the room carrying 12-gauge shotguns.
Now, 35 years on, the notorious murders are the subject of a new Ryan Murphy drama on Netflix, titled Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story — and this time, the “monsters” might just be the victims.
Read more:
The twisted truth behind Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
Timeline of the Menendez brothers’ murder case
Thursday 17 April 2025 16:00 , Associated PressThe district attorney of Los Angeles says he does not support the resentencing of Lyle and Erik Menendez, brothers who have spent more than 30 years in prison for killing their parents at their Beverly Hills home in 1989.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said Monday that his office was withdrawing his predecessor's request for a resentencing because the brothers have repeatedly lied about why they killed their parents and “fell short” of taking full responsibility for their crimes.
The brothers have argued that they committed the crimes in self-defense after years of abuse by their father.
Before leaving office, previous district attorney George Gascón said he would reexamine the case given a renewed understanding of and empathy for sexual abuse victims.
Here’s a look at the timeline of the case:
How long will the sentencing hearing last?
Thursday 17 April 2025 16:15 , Katie HawkinsonThe Menendez brothers’ sentencing hearing is set to begin today at 9:30 a.m. in Los Angeles, California.
The hearing is expected to last through Friday — that is, if it’s not delayed after prosecutors filed to pause the hearing until state prison and parole officers complete their risk assessments of the brothers.
Even if the hearing proceeds today and Friday, it’s unclear when exactly the judge will issue a decision.
DA at the center of Menendez brothers’ release saga was called a ‘Nazi collaborator’ by boss, suit says
Thursday 17 April 2025 16:33 , Madeline SherrattA district attorney ensnared at the center of the highly anticipated release of the infamous Menendez brothers alleges he was labeled a Nazi collaborator by his boss, according to a new lawsuit.
Prosecutor Brock Lunsford announced Monday that he and his colleague Nancy Theberge were suing for over $250,000 in economic damages with a further $5 million in non-economic damages after superiors in the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office discriminated and demoted the pair.
But, the lawsuit, now seen by The Independent revealed that Lunsford says he was branded incompetent and a “quisling” by his superior – a derogatory term used to describe a traitor and associated with Nazi collaborator Major Vidkun Quisling in the 1930s.
Read more:
DA at center of Menendez brothers’ release saga called ‘Nazi collaborator’: suit says
Resentencing isn't the only path to freedom for the Menendez brothers
Thursday 17 April 2025 16:46 , Katie HawkinsonWhile the Menendez brothers are pursuing resentencing, it’s not their only path to freedom.
The Menendez brothers could also be granted clemency by California Governor Gavin Newsom. This could have multiple outcomes, such as a reduced sentence or a pardon. As part of this process, a hearing is scheduled for June to discuss risk assessments set to be completed by the parole board.
The Menendez brothers could also undergo a new trial, which their legal team has already asked for.
In pictures: Menendez family members arrive at Los Angeles court ahead of resentencing hearing
Thursday 17 April 2025 16:54 , Katie Hawkinson
Defense attorney slams prosecution ahead of resentencing hearing
Thursday 17 April 2025 16:59 , Katie HawkinsonDefense attorney Mark Geragos told reporters he doesn’t expect the judge to accept the prosecution’s filing to delay the hearing.
“I think it’s appalling, for lack of a better term, how the DA has treated this case,” Geragos told reporters outside the courthouse where the sentencing hearing is set to take place.
“I don’t know why in this case this particular DA...has decided he has some other interest to vindicate that has nothing to do with the victims,” he added.
ICYMI: Family of Menendez brothers wave off prosecutor criticism and lead rally for their release
Thursday 17 April 2025 17:00 , Associated PressThe family of Erik and Lyle Menendez last month rejected claims by the Los Angeles district attorney that the brothers hadn't appropriately taken responsibility for the 1989 killing of their parents and said that any lies they told during their murder trial were due to trauma and fear.
“Kids lie when they’re scared, when they feel intimidated, and when they become traumatized. They lie when they don’t know who to trust. But they grow up, they learn, and they take responsibility,” said Tamara Goodell, a cousin of the brothers who spoke at a rally calling for the brothers' release from prison.
Keep reading:
Family of Menendez brothers wave off prosecutor criticism and lead rally for their release
Prosecutor says Menendez brothers haven't 'fully come clean' and aren't yet ready for resentencing
Thursday 17 April 2025 17:17 , Katie HawkinsonLos Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman spoke outside court ahead of the resentencing hearing Thursday, arguing the Menendez brothers should remain behind bars.
“We believe and the California courts confirm that, in order for someone to be rehabilitated, they need to fully come clean with all the entire breadth of their criminal conduct,” Hochman told reporters Thursday. “In this case, the Menendez brothers, for the past 30 years, have not come clean with that information.”
The Menendez brothers will reportedly highlight their rehabilitation efforts and self-help group attendance as they make a bid for a lesser sentence.
“For instance, they have perpetrated the lie, a lie of self-defense,” Hochman added. “It wasn't their original story. It was actually their fourth story on why they brutally killed their parents.”
Focus of today's hearing will be on Menendez brothers' self-defense claim
Thursday 17 April 2025 17:32 , Katie HawkinsonThe focus of today’s resentencing hearing will be the Menendez brothers’ claim of self-defense, District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.
The brothers have claimed they killed their parents in self-defense following years of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of their father.
Hochman expects the defense to call witnesses today as well.
“The prosecution does not fear those facts,” Hochman said. “We just want every part of the factual picture to be before the judge when he makes his decision.”
Hearing begins as Menendez brothers join virtually
Thursday 17 April 2025 18:15 , Katie HawkinsonThe resentencing hearing has begun in Los Angeles, with the Menendez brothers joining virtually from a prison near San Diego.
The brothers are wearing blue prison jumpsuits and sitting together, according to reporters inside the courtroom.
Electronic devices are not allowed inside the courtroom.
Public tickets handed out for resentencing hearing
Thursday 17 April 2025 18:19 , Katie HawkinsonA deputy handed out some 16 tickets to members of the public outside the Los Angeles courthouse who wanted to view the Menendez brothers’ resentencing hearing, according to NBC News.
There are 16 seats available, some of which are standby seats. The tickets were handed out via a lottery system, the outlet reports.
Judge denies prosecution's request to delay hearing
Thursday 17 April 2025 18:39 , Katie HawkinsonA Los Angeles judge denied District Attorney Nathan Hochman’s request to delay the Menendez brothers’ resentencing hearing in court Thursday.
In a filing late Wednesday, Hochman argued that state prison and parole officers should first complete their risk assessments on the brothers. Those assessments are ongoing and will be completed by June 13, California Governor Gavin Newsom said Wednesday.
Judge says resentencing not likely
Thursday 17 April 2025 19:09 , Katie HawkinsonA California judge says a decision on the Menendez brothers’ resentencing likely won’t come in the next two days.
While the hearings are expected to last through Friday, the judge doesn’t except to issue a decision until later.
The hearings will include testimony from witnesses called by both sides.
Today’s hearing is set to focus on the Menendez brothers’ claim of self-defense, Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman said Thursday. The brothers have claimed they killed their parents in self-defense following years of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of their father.
Court in recess
Thursday 17 April 2025 19:21 , Katie HawkinsonCourt is in recess until 1:30 p.m. local time, NBC News reports.
This comes after the judge says “no way” a decision will be made on the Menendez brothers’ resentencing by the end of the hearings Friday.
Defense claims prosecution has 'bias' and condemns use of graphic crime scene photos
Thursday 17 April 2025 20:25 , Katie HawkinsonBefore the two-hour recess, defense attorney Mark Geragos accused District Attorney Nathan Hochman of having a personal bias against the Menendez brothers and condemned him for showing graphic images from the 1989 crime scene in court last week.
Geragos claimed prosecutors violated Marsy’s Law — a law which protects victims’ rights in court — by showing the pictures.
Prosecutor Habib Balian apologized to the Menendez family for showing the photos but said it was necessary because the brothers had committed “extremely depraved conduct.”
Judge Michael Jesic then defended Balian and took responsibility for allowing the images to be shown in court without telling the family first.
Jesic added that those attending the hearing need to be prepared for more potentially graphic content.
“If anyone is uncomfortable they need to think about whether they should be here,” Jesic said.
Monsters star Cooper Koch spotted supporting Menendez brothers in pivotal court hearing
Thursday 17 April 2025 21:00 , Inga ParkelMonsters star Cooper Koch was spotted attending last week’s pivotal court hearing for convicted murderers Erik and Lyle Menendez.
The Menendez brothers, who are serving life sentences for the 1989 murders of their parents, José and Kitty, returned to the public eye in 2024 with the premiere of Ryan Murphy’s show, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
The Netflix series, which featured 28-year-old Koch as Erik and 25-year-old Nicholas Chavez as Lyle, garnered renewed support for the brothers, who have been fighting for their release for the past 30 years.
Read more:
Monsters star spotted supporting Menendez brothers in pivotal court hearing
Defense attorney says prosecution 'jumped the shark'
Thursday 17 April 2025 21:17 , Katie HawkinsonDefense attorney Mark Geragos says Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman has "jumped the shark” and expressed frustration with Hochman’s comments to reporters before the Menendez brothers’ resentencing hearing Thursday.
Geragos said he is "very close to filing a motion to recuse the District Attorney.” A motion to recuse involves asking the prosecution to be removed from the case due to alleged bias or conflict of interest.
"This is another in a series of the DA's office abdicating their role," Geragos told reporters during the court recess on Thursday afternoon, according to NBC News. "They have… will say it again, they have jumped the shark."
Recess called after dispute over risk assessment
Thursday 17 April 2025 21:22 , Katie HawkinsonThe judge called a two-hour court recess today over a dispute between attorneys about part of a risk assessment report on the Menendez brothers released by California officials.
Defense attorney Mark Geragos called it “completely unfair,” and said the hearing can’t proceed until he has time to review the document.
The recess is set to end within the next few minutes, at 1:30 p.m. local time.
Defense attorney claims Menendez family re-traumatized by crime scene photos
Thursday 17 April 2025 21:56 , Katie HawkinsonDefense attorney Mark Geragos says the graphic crime scene photos shown in court last week re-traumatized the Menendez family.
Prosecutors showed graphic images from the 1989 crime scene in court last week.
"He has abused the victims privately, he has abused the victims publicly,” Geragos said of Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman while speaking to reporters Thursday afternoon, according to Fox News.
“You were all here when they flashed grisly crime scene photos on the screen,” he continued. “It took me a second—normally it would be the DA who jumps up and objects to that. Instead, it fell upon the defense to do so.”
Prosecutor Habib Balian had apologized to the Menendez family for showing the photos but said it was necessary because the brothers had committed “extremely depraved conduct.”
Judge Michael Jesic then defended Balian and took responsibility for allowing the images to be shown in court without telling the family first.
Jesic added that those attending the hearing need to be prepared for more potentially graphic content.
Attorneys return to courtroom
Thursday 17 April 2025 21:57 , Katie HawkinsonThe attorneys have returned to the courtroom where the Menendez brothers’ resentencing hearing is being held, signaling this afternoon’s recess may come to an end soon.
Follow along for live updates from The Independent.
Double murderer Menendez brothers to cite self-help groups in sentence reduction plea
Thursday 17 April 2025 22:34 , Associated PressArrested over 35 years ago, Erik and Lyle Menendez have now spent more of their lives behind bars than free.
The pair were imprisoned for the double murder of their parents in their Beverly Hills home. In the decades since, they have gotten an education, participated in self-help classes and started various support groups for their fellow inmates – all behind bars.
Read more:
Double murderer Menendez brothers to cite self-help groups in sentence reduction plea
In pictures: Public gathers for Menendez brothers' resentencing hearing
Thursday 17 April 2025 23:00 , Katie Hawkinson
Resentencing delayed to May 9
Thursday 17 April 2025 23:05 , Katie HawkinsonA judge has again delayed the resentencing hearing for Erik and Lyle Menendez after it began this morning in Los Angeles.
Judge Michael Jesic called for a pause until May 9. The delay comes after Jesic said the court needs to obtain partially-completed risk assessments on the brothers ordered by California Governor Gavin Newsom, the Associated Press reports.
Prosecutors have seen these partially-completed reports and want to use them, and called for a delay in the hearing so all parties can consider it. Neither Jesic nor defense attorney Mark Geragos has seen the documents.
Now Geragos says he’s calling for Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman to be removed from the case.
Relatives are 'disappointed' after resentencing postponed
01:18 , Kelly RissmanRelatives of the Menendez brothers call the decision to delay their resentencing “disappointing.”
"Today was a little bit disappointing for us as a family," Anamaria Baralt, a cousin of the brothers, told NBC4 outside the courthouse on Thursday.
"There have been some delays in this process that were unforeseeable, like the wildfires, that, of course, we have great patience for. This is another delay that is not so much, but we will continue to show up as a family,” Baralt added.
The hearing has been rescheduled for May 9.
This concludes today’s live blog coverage.
