- LA DA Nathan Hochman reverses predecessor’s stance, calls self-defense claims “lies”
- March 2025 hearing pending despite motion withdrawal demand
- Brothers’ parole eligibility hinges on admitting fault under new scrutiny
- Cousin alleges DA’s hostility; family seeks case transfer to state AG
- Governor Newsom orders 90-day risk assessment for clemency decision
The Menendez brothers’ bid for reduced sentences faces renewed opposition as newly elected Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman moved to withdraw a resentencing motion filed by his predecessor. Hochman, who assumed office in December 2024, criticized Lyle and Erik Menendez’s persistent claims of acting in self-defense against paternal abuse as fabricated, stating the “interests of justice” require case reevaluation. This reversal nullifies former DA George Gascón’s October 2024 recommendation to convert their life-without-parole sentences to 50-year terms, which would have granted immediate parole eligibility given their ages at the 1989 patricide.
Legal analysts compare this strategic shift to California’s 2023 reconsideration of Sirhan Sirhan’s parole denial, where DA turnover altered case trajectories. Hochman’s 3-month review of 5,000+ case documents revealed alleged inconsistencies in the brothers’ prison rehabilitation records and failure to acknowledge purported witness tampering attempts. The DA’s office emphasizes that genuine remorse—not just prison programming—remains central to resentencing considerations under PC 1172.1 reforms.
With the scheduled March 20-21 hearing proceeding, prosecutors now plan to highlight the brothers’ 1996 jury conviction for fatally shooting entertainment executive José Menendez and wife Kitty in their Beverly Hills mansion. Despite defense claims of lifelong sexual abuse, recent evidentiary challenges faltered when Hochman dismissed a 2023 habeas corpus petition citing a newly surfaced abuse disclosure letter and allegations from José’s alleged second victim.
Parallel to court battles, Governor Gavin Newsom’s February 2025 intervention introduces uncertainty. His mandated parole board review examines whether the brothers, now in their mid-50s, pose public safety risks—a process mirroring 2021 evaluations of Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten. Advocates cite the Menendezes’ clean prison records and mentorship roles, while victim advocates decry potential leniency for “celebrity killers.”
As familial tensions escalate, cousin Tamara Goodell’s formal complaint accuses Hochman of dismissing trauma accounts during January 2025 meetings. This friction underscores California’s broader debate over sentencing reforms for convicted murderers versus victims’ rights—a conflict previously seen in the controversial 2022 release of former Symbionese Liberation Army member Sara Jane Olson.