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Prosecutors plan to reveal whether they support resentencing Erik and Lyle Menendez

Prosecutors plan to reveal whether they support resentencing Erik and Lyle Menendez

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Prosecutors will announce Thursday whether or not they are recommending a resentencing Erik and Lyle Menendez for the 1989 murder of her parents in Beverly Hills.

The brothers were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 1996. Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón has scheduled a news conference to discuss his office’s decision at 1:30 p.m.

If prosecutors recommend resentencing, they need court approval.

Lyle Menendezthen 21, and Erik Menendez, then 18, admitted that they fatally shot their father, entertainment executive Jose Menendez, and their mother, Kitty Menendez. The brothers said they feared their parents would kill them to prevent people from finding out that Jose Menendez had sexually abused Erik Menendez for years.

The extended family of brothers has pleaded for her releaseThey said they deserved to be free after decades behind bars. Several family members said that in today’s world, where the impact of sexual abuse is more acutely felt, the brothers would not have been convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.

The Menendez brothers were tried twice for their parents’ murders, with the first trial ending in a hung jury.

Prosecutors at the time claimed there was no evidence of harassment and many details in her story of sexual abuse were not admitted at the second trial. Prosecutors also said at the time that the brothers were after their parents’ multi-million dollar estate.

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