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Post by bc2ca on Oct 25, 2024 2:25:50 GMT
The Los Angeles District Attorney announced today that he is recommending the court resentence Erik and Lyle Menendez to 50 years to life for the 1989 murder of their parents. They are currently sentenced to life without parole. It the judge accepts the recommendations, they could be eligible for parole immediately as the crimes were committed when they were under 26. A CA law makes them eligible for a parole hearing after serving 25 years (they have served 30). CBS story |
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Post by epeanymous on Oct 25, 2024 2:57:49 GMT
Possible unpopular opinion, I think that life without parole is inconsistent with the possibility for change. Even aside from the abuse, they were young; they won’t be the same people they were in 1989 forever.
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pinklady
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,064 
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Post by pinklady on Oct 25, 2024 3:01:40 GMT
This was premeditated murder. They planned it out. It’s disgusting that the Gascon is doing this. Those two murderers belong rotting in jail forever. People who plan out the murder of 2 people, then party like they are billionaires are sick sick individuals who will never change.
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Oct 25, 2024 3:27:23 GMT
It also has to be released approved by the parole board and lastly Gov Newsome.. many steps to possibly getting out..
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Post by MorellisCupcake on Oct 25, 2024 3:30:30 GMT
Possible unpopular opinion, I think that life without parole is inconsistent with the possibility for change. Even aside from the abuse, they were young; they won’t be the same people they were in 1989 forever. I agree with that. I’m nowhere near who I was when I was 18. This is a tough one - I don’t know what the truth is (then vs now). Serving 35 years is a long time and maybe they deserve a new sentence. |
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Oct 25, 2024 3:45:21 GMT
The LA DA also listed many of their actions, accomplishments while confined.
They were very active in providing help to others to better themselves.
They were absolute model prisoners.
I made a whole post on the Misc. Thread as the DA was speaking live.
The DA also stated that there were some in his office who disagreed with his decision and that they mlcould be speaking out at the court session.
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Post by rainangel on Oct 25, 2024 10:34:50 GMT
I am of two minds with this. I can argue for and against this.
I feel the murder was planned and calculated, and their behavior after the crimes did not help them.
If the SA allegations they made are true, I sympathize. But still believe they should be held accountable in some way. But not for life.
If this was a case of two sisters claiming SA was the reason they killed their parents, they would have walked away with a lot shorter sentence, if not acquitted outright. It is for sure a double standard because they are male. Especially in the early 90's, two males claiming SA was scoffed at. Ridiculous!
Being from a country where the maximum time for murder is 21 years, I think life is excessive. We focus more on rehabilitation, rather than punishment. And by all accounts, these brothers have behaved very well in prison and are different people now. I don't believe they are a danger to society.
But still, I just can't shake the feeling this was calculated. I think I need definitive proof that the SA was happening. Which we will never get.
I can't definitively say if I believe this was murder or (for a lack of a better term) self-defense. But I do believe they case should be re-evaluated with 2024 eyes and laws, and not 1990's eyes and laws.
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Post by littlemama on Oct 25, 2024 12:37:20 GMT
I am of two minds with this. I can argue for and against this. I feel the murder was planned and calculated, and their behavior after the crimes did not help them. If the SA allegations they made are true, I sympathize. But still believe they should be held accountable in some way. But not for life. If this was a case of two sisters claiming SA was the reason they killed their parents, they would have walked away with a lot shorter sentence, if not acquitted outright. It is for sure a double standard because they are male. Especially in the early 90's, two males claiming SA was scoffed at. Ridiculous! Being from a country where the maximum time for murder is 21 years, I think life is excessive. We focus more on rehabilitation, rather than punishment. And by all accounts, these brothers have behaved very well in prison and are different people now. I don't believe they are a danger to society. But still, I just can't shake the feeling this was calculated. I think I need definitive proof that the SA was happening. Which we will never get. I can't definitively say if I believe this was murder or (for a lack of a better term) self-defense. But I do believe they case should be re-evaluated with 2024 eyes and laws, and not 1990's eyes and laws. We just watched something on this case and it clearly laid out how the prosecution believed that men/boys could not be victims of sexual assault/abuse at that time. People who firmly believed in their guilt changed their minds after the sexual abuse testimony in the first trial. If they were faking those emotions, they are the best actors in history. I agree that life in prison is inappropriate for all but the worst offenders and that everyone deserves a chance at rehabilitation. We need prison reform including separating inmates by like crimes. Burglars do not need to be houses with murderers, for example. We have to get over the "throw the book at everyone for everything" mentality that we have in this country. |
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Post by lesserknownpea on Oct 25, 2024 13:02:34 GMT
I know they were guilty, but believe they were in very poor mental health from the sexual and emotional abuse.
They were very young when they went to prison. 30 years is a long time. They are not a threat to anybody.
If there were any doubt of their SA claims, the new allegations from the Menudo member has sealed it for me.
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Post by rainangel on Oct 25, 2024 13:10:07 GMT
We just watched something on this case and it clearly laid out how the prosecution believed that men/boys could not be victims of sexual assault/abuse at that time. If the tv-series Monster is accurate, the male jurors in the first trial didn't believe boys/men could be victims of SA. The women on the jury did. I don't know if this is true, but it wouldn't surprise me, given the general attitude towards SA at the time.
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Tearisci
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,247
Member is Online
Nov 6, 2018 16:34:30 GMT
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Post by Tearisci on Oct 25, 2024 13:38:24 GMT
I think it's time that the case is evaluated again and new decisions made.
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Post by Prenticekid on Oct 25, 2024 16:36:59 GMT
I have thoughts, but not an actual opinion: Women have to serve sentences for killing their abusers, and 10 year olds are forced to carry pregnancies suffered as a result of rape, which is a life sentence of its own. Why should grown ass adult male murderers get their sentences shortened based on childhood abuse if women don't?
I also realize it has been 30 years, and a lot of murderers don't get that long of a sentence.
Then there is the me that thinks if they were soooo messed up by SA that they had to murder their parents instead of simply moving out of the alleged abuser's home, that maybe we don't need them to be out and about.
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Post by bc2ca on Oct 25, 2024 17:39:37 GMT
I'm okay with this being revisited. I do think the way we treat victims of SA and MB has changed dramatically in the last 30 years. And yes, there are plenty of women that I don't think should be in jail either, but that isn't a reason to keep the Menendez brothers' sentences as is.
They aren't being exonerated. They brutally planned and executed the murders of their parents. But I think the overall picture and mitigating factors should be considered and weren't in the second trial.
Even if the judge agrees to change the sentence, it doesn't mean they would be approved for release at their first parole board hearing. Just that they would be eligible for a hearing.
I don't know if this made national news but, very recently a San Diego school shooter sentenced to the same 50 years to life being recommended in this case came up for his first parole hearing. He was denied. While a similar model prisoner to the Menendez brothers, the ripple effect of his crime and lasting impact on the community were major factors.
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Post by gracieplusthree on Oct 25, 2024 18:04:44 GMT
We just watched something on this case and it clearly laid out how the prosecution believed that men/boys could not be victims of sexual assault/abuse at that time. If the tv-series Monster is accurate, the male jurors in the first trial didn't believe boys/men could be victims of SA. The women on the jury did. I don't know if this is true, but it wouldn't surprise me, given the general attitude towards SA at the time.
Kind of disturbing that would've been their mindsets isn't it, but I believe it. Just seems crazy. |
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Oct 25, 2024 23:12:22 GMT
bc2caSchool shooter equals multiple victims whether they were shot or not, in fact many many victims. The families and friends, school community, the town community, the whole town, first responders et al. To reconsider the Menendez situation is appropriate.
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scrappinmama
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,121
Jun 26, 2014 12:54:09 GMT
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Post by scrappinmama on Oct 25, 2024 23:25:11 GMT
I'm conflicted on this one. They planned the murder, after all. But I also know what they went through was horrible. I feel like reconsidering the sentencing is the right call. It doesn't mean they will be set free right away. It means they will get a chance to go before the parole board. Whether they release them or not depends on a lot of things.
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