The notorious Erik and Lyle Menendez, two brothers that were accused of killing their parents Jose and Kitty Menendez in 1989, have been in jail for nearly 35 years. The brothers were convicted of first-degree murder and dealt the card of life in prison for the crime that captured America’s minds.
The story can be interpreted in many different ways, part of the reason that its public appeal is so strong. This appeal is heightened by the documentaries that are out on Netflix, one of which, “Monsters,” has caused an immense fan response that has potentially changed the future for the Menendez Brothers.
Kerris Arnett, a junior at Sage Creek and an avid follower of true crime, discussed what this case means for her as an invested observer of the case.
“There are so many different sides to the Menendez case, and I don’t think anyone truly knows what happened the night of the murder besides the brothers themselves,” Arnett said.
While some may say that the evidence provided for Kitty and Jose’s death leads to an open and shut case, others argue that the true story is much more dark and twisted than the surface level. Erik and Lyle both testified that the killing of their parents was imperfect self defense, a protective effort from physical and verbal abuse at the hands of their father, Jose.
Bob Boeckman, Sage Creek’s school psychologist, shed light on how significant this killing was, especially in regards to a case built on child abuse.
“It’s definitely a mitigating circumstance, but [the abuse] doesn’t completely act as a full alibi,” Boeckman said. “This doesn’t disregard the impounding PTSD on the brothers though.”
On the other hand, the fan response has led investigators to shed light on new evidence, with a new trial date set for Nov. 26, 2024. The new evidence includes a letter written by Erik Memendez to his cousin eight months before the crime occured, which is significant because the letter specifically discusses the state of fear the brothers were in, setting up the killing as imperfect self-defense.
Though this new trial could mean immense things for the brothers, including exoneration, many believe that the public’s presence in the trial may not be the best idea. Luke Norton, a viewer of “Monsters” and a Sage Creek junior, gives his opinion on how the trial should be approached going into the new court date.
“I think this new evidence is coming into light for all the wrong reasons: to make the public happy,” Norton said. “This case is between the brothers and the jury; the rest of the world shouldn’t be involved.”
There’s a lot to consider when thinking about this case, and its influence will never die down for true crime fanatics and regular citizens alike. Whether speculators believe Erik and Lyle had an alibi or didn’t, the results of this trial could change the court system forever.
“At the end of the day, it’s up to the jury to decide whether or not they believe the brothers, and whether or not the abuse excuse is a solid enough alibi to justify murder,” Arnett said.
