CA - Court upholds Menendez brothers' convictions

Updates at this link.


3:25 PM EDT Tamara Lucero Goodell excused from the stand

After Goodell testified, court entered a break for lunch. Proceedings were expected to resume Tuesday afternoon.

3:18 PM EDT Tamara Lucero Goodell faces cross examination from prosecutors

On cross examination, Tamara Lucero Goodell was asked to talk about how the brothers have changed over the past three decades and whether they talked with her about the murders. She said they did, but only to say they were sorry for the pain caused to the family.

When asked whether she ever saw Kitty or Jose Menendez abuse the brothers, Goodell said she saw Jose Menendez once grab one of them by the back of the neck at a tennis court.

3:12 PM EDT Family member asked about Menendez brothers' plans, if they're released

During direct examination, Tamara Lucero Goodell talked about what the brothers might do if they were released. She said Lyle Menendez wants to work on green spaces and Erik Menendez would like to provide hospice care.

Asked whether the brothers have changed since the murders, she said they are 1,000 times different.

"It would bring a lot of closure for all of us," she said of the possibility of their release.

3:07 PM EDT Second defense witness begins testimony

Tamara Lucero Goodell, another Menendez family member, was 9 at the time of the murders. She said Erik and Lyle Menendez are like brothers to her.

She insisted the brothers, if released today, would not commit a 'super-strike' crime -- one of the crimes that would prevent resentencing.

3:04 PM EDT Lyle and Erik Menendez to speaking during resentencing hearing

Lyle and Erik Menendez will address the court after the arguments on both sides are done at the end of the resentencing hearings, a judge ruled.

The ruling means the brothers will not be subjected to cross-examination by prosecution.

The brothers, who attended Tuesday's hearing, waved at the camera, acknowledging their defense team in the Van Nuys courtroom.

2:58 PM EDT Prosecutors cross-examine Anamaria Baralt

During cross examination, Menendez family member Anamaria Baralt said pain was caused by the brothers’ actions, but that she has long forgiven them.

She also was asked about whether the brothers had ever admitted perjury. Baralt admitted speaking to Lyle Menendez about the alleged trial perjury once in the last few weeks, adding that he had admitted to trying to manipulate the case by asking a witness to testify falsely.

2:04 PM EDT Anamaria Baralt concludes testimony

Family members hugged Anamaria Baralt, a Menendez brothers cousin, after her emotional testimony.

She described the effect of the murders on the family, saying, "It has been a relentless examination of our family in the public eye… it has been a torture for decades."

Menendez brothers cousin Anamaria Baralt arrives at courthouse
Anamaria Baralt, a fierce defender of the Menendez brothers' bid for freedom, answered questions on her way into the courthouse Tuesday May 13, 2025.

1:56 PM EDT Judge outlines standards for resentencing

Before witnesses were presented, Judge Michael Jesic discussed the legislative framework for resentencing. He said that resentencing would only be taken off the table if there was a presumption that the brothers would commit a specific list of high-level crimes, such as murder or rape.

1:44 PM EDT Anamaria Baralt, cousin to Erik and Lyle Menendez, is first witness

Menendez brothers cousin Anamaria Baralt is the first witness to speak at the resentencing hearing.

Their attorney, Mark Geragos, asked her how often she has been to court for the brothers. She estimated 10 to 15 times.

"Thirty-five years is enough… They are universally forgiven by the family," Baralt said.

1:38 PM EDT Hearing underway in Van Nuys after morning delay

After a delay, the hearing started at about 9:40 a.m. Erik and Lyle Menendez appeared via video feed wearing blue prison jumpsuits and waved hello to people gathered in the courtroom.

1:34 PM EDT LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman arrives at courthouse in Van Nuys

District Attorney Nathan Hochman entered the courthouse in Van Nuys.

1:09 PM EDT Menendez brothers to appear on video feed

As they have at past hearings, Lyle and Erik Menendez are expected to appear in the courtroom on a video feed from prison.

It was not immediately clear whether they will speak at the two-day hearing.

Proceedings are behind schedule this morning in Van Nuys.
 
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Wow.


A major victory for the Menendez brothers… Erik and Lyle will officially be resentenced.

The judge's decision came just before 5 p.m. Tuesday after a full day of hearing testimony from family members.
 
The judge, having reviewed all the information, including letters from correction officers, determined they are low risk, and eligible for release. Their life sentences are no more!

Freedom for the boys.
There was an article yesterday saying that they were moderate risk. Would you want to live near them??? I certainly wouldn't! Hopefully Gov. Newsom vetoes their release. They aren't remorseful in the least.
 
They shouldn't be getting out. They will re-offend. They need to serve out their life sentences.

Even though I believe they should die in prison, I don't think Erik would reoffend, but I do believe that Lyle would. It's disheartening that they will likely get out but I am not surprised. They release monsters out into society every single day. And then there are the people who want these monsters out too. Sad but true.
 
We've seen sexual abuse be used as a mitigating factor in other cases.

So i could see them being eligible for parole in their dad's murder.

I don't know if it would be a mitigating factor in kitty's.
 
We've seen sexual abuse be used as a mitigating factor in other cases.

So i could see them being eligible for parole in their dad's murder.

I don't know if it would be a mitigating factor in kitty's.
Wasn't there the allegation of abuse by her, too? Correct me if I'm getting cases mixed up, here. The Jahnke case is very similar in a bunch of ways.

MOO
 
Updates at this link.


During direct examination, Tamara Lucero Goodell talked about what the brothers might do if they were released. She said Lyle Menendez wants to work on green spaces and Erik Menendez would like to provide hospice care.

Lyle and Erik Menendez will address the court after the arguments on both sides are done at the end of the resentencing hearings, a judge ruled.

The ruling means the brothers will not be subjected to cross-examination by prosecution.

After a delay, the hearing started at about 9:40 a.m. Erik and Lyle Menendez appeared via video feed wearing blue prison jumpsuits and waved hello to people gathered in the courtroom.
Snipped for focus.
Rbm.

First bolded : I wouldn't want Lyle taking care of my parents, siblings or dear friends, when they're at their most vulnerable !!

Second bolded : Ugh. As if they're celebrities.
Imo.
 
Great. They are unrepentant killers. Why not let them out of prison? Has California gone completely crazy?!
No, neither Newsom nor the parole board has made the decision to parole them yet. All this ruling does, is make them eligible for parole. Their defenders are celebrating prematurely.
 
There was an article yesterday saying that they were moderate risk. Would you want to live near them??? I certainly wouldn't! Hopefully Gov. Newsom vetoes their release. They aren't remorseful in the least.
I would have no problem being their neighbor. I think Newsom will stay away as far as he can. He has political ambitions.
 

Menendez brothers' parole hearing pushed back to late summer​

The parole hearing for the Menendez brothers has been pushed back to later this summer, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said Monday.

Originally slated for June 13, the parole hearing for Erik and Lyle Menendez has been rescheduled to Aug. 21 and 22. It’s unclear why the hearing was pushed back.


 
Following the resentencing decision on May 13, future parole considerations would have taken place at separate hearings, likely months after the hearing that was already scheduled for June.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has already requested information, such as a risk assessment, while considering the brothers’ clemency bid. The brothers are pursuing multiple avenues to freedom, and the clemency path was separate from the resentencing path.

Newsom can grant clemency at any time.

But it could still be months or years before the brothers would get parole — if ever. That will be up to the parole board
 

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