Menendez Brothers’ Petition For New Trial Denied

The petition for a new trial challenged their incarceration based on newly revealed evidence.

A judge has denied the Menendez brothers’ petition for a new trial.

The Los Angeles judge rejected the petition filed by the brothers’ attorneys in 2023. It challenged their incarceration based on newly revealed evidence. Attorneys say the evidence would have changed the outcome of their murder trials.

The new evidence supports their claims that both Erik and Lyle were sexually assaulted and abused by their father, Jose. However, the judge alleged the new evidence “slightly corroborates” that the brothers were abused. Though it does not negate that the two had acted with “premeditation and deliberation” when they fatally shot their parents.

Therefore, the judge said the evidence was not strong enough to sway the jury’s results nor result in a lesser conviction. The two have been behind bars since 1990 and each are serving two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole.