The Menendez brothers finally have decades of lies to bear the responsibility for all the killing of their parents, as the duo qualifies for parole

The Menendez Brothers took full responsibility for their outrageous crime moments, and the judge agreed to resent the advice of the state authorities.

Erik and Lyle were only 18 and 21 when they brutally murdered their parents Jose and Kitty Menendez in 1996 at their home in Beverly Hills.

The brothers claimed they snapped up after years of sexual abuse at their father’s hands and were disappointed by their mother who turned a blind eye.

Both spoke to the judge Michael Jesic in the Los Angeles County Superior Court on Tuesday, both made extraordinary recognition of the indulgence and shame they suffered in the decades that followed.

I assume all responsibility. I killed my parents, Lyle, 56, told the court. “I chose to kill my mom and dad in my own home.”

“I chose to mock the justice system. I don’t have excuses, nor do I blame my parents.

Lyle continued to express his “what I did,” adding: “I was impulsive and immature.

“I bottled my emotions and anger. I was scared, but I was full of anger. If I had coping skills and trusted others, I wouldn’t have done that. Even if I killed him, I still heard him.

Menendez Brothers will leave prison soon after murdering parents Kitty and Jose (center in picture) in 1989

The brothers claimed they had been sexually assaulted for years at the hands of their father and were disappointed by their mother’s brother

Erik also took full responsibility for his actions on Destiny Night, telling the court – a room full of his relatives and supporters – I lied to the police. I lied to my family.

“I played all five rounds with my parents and went back to reloading. I’m really sorry.

“My behavior is criminal, selfish, cruel and cowardly. I have no excuses, no reason. I take full responsibility for my crimes.

The duo won the victory of former Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón, who backed up their bid.

However, when he was ousted in late 2024, the upcoming Da Nathan Hochman took a very different approach, removing advice from his office to allow the men to walk freely.

Hockman argued that the two were not ready to be resentful because they did not fully accept their actions.

He said he did not think the two were sexually abused.

“Our position is not “no” and not “forever.” “They have not fully accepted the responsibility for all crimes.” ”

Relatives of the Menendez brothers arrived in court and provided support in resentment

Erik’s stepdaughter Talia Menendez

It is not clear whether Tuesday’s wholehearted confession has disturbed the judge’s ruling.

Judge Jesus eventually agreed that Lyle and Erik won the chance of freedom, and they chose to reduce their sentences to 50 years from a life without parole.

This change means they are immediately eligible to apply for parole under the California Young Criminal Law because they committed crimes under the age of 26.

The National Parole Board still has to decide whether to release it from prison.

“I’m not saying they should be released, it’s not my decision,” Jesus said. “I do believe they have done enough in the last 35 years and should have a chance.”

But the elated family of the Menandes brothers celebrated the decision Tuesday night.

Ana Maria Baralt, the brother’s cousin who testified in court on Tuesday, shared her joy after an Instagram hearing.

“We all believe that 35 years is enough on both sides of the family. They are generally forgiven by our families,” she said at the hearing.

Erik and Lyle Menendez are eligible for parole after being imprisoned for 35 years for murdering their parents. They took a photo together here in December 1992

Afterwards, she revealed she was talking to Lyle on the phone and stayed in touch with Erik’s wife, Tammi.

‘We are very excited. We still have to go through the parole process, but most importantly, Lyle and Erik won’t die in prison.

They will go out. They will be rejoining our family… [Erik and Lyle] Very excited, too.

Baralt offered a huge shout to Judge Jesic to restore our faith in the judicial system, read the law, and apply for the law appropriately. ”

Erik’s stepdaughter Talia shared her joy video, who was relentlessly advocating for his release in court on Tuesday.

“We’re here!” Talia wrote on Instagram. “Thank you for the countless prayers and support you all, we really wouldn’t be here without all of you. Special thanks to our legal team and everyone involved in achieving this.”

The brothers received widespread support from relatives, many of whom testified on their behalf on Tuesday.

Another cousin, Tamara Goodell, said she recently brought her 13-year-old son to meet with her brother in prison and if released, they will contribute a lot to the world.

Diane Hernandez, who also testified at the first trial of Erik and Lyle, talked about the abuse she witnessed while living with Menendez at the residence of Menendez and what is called “corridor rule.”

The brothers appeared in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Tuesday, and Judge Michael Jesic reduced their sentence from a sentence without parole to 50 years

Jose and Kitty (pictured) were killed in Beverly Hills mansion in 1989

“When Jose is with a boy… you can’t even go up the stairs on the same floor,” Hernandez said of his father.

On August 20, 1989, the two brothers shot and killed two parents while watching a movie at a luxury home in Beverly Hills.

Their trial prompted global headlines. Their motive was greedy because they immediately inherited $14 million from their parents, prosecutors said.

The brothers insisted that they sexually abused their father with a father for many years, while the mother turned a blind eye to the abuse.

The first trial ended with an open jury. But, in the second trial in 1996 – the judge refused to allow any evidence that the fraternity was harassed by his father – they were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.

The recent Netflix TV series Monsters: The Story of Lyle and Erik Menendez and The Real Crime Documentary The Menendez Brothers have sparked new interest in the case.

Both films explain how the brothers claimed to police that they returned home from the theater and found their parents slaughtered.

Initially, there was concern that a vicious killer was in lenient state in Beverly Hills, one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the United States.

Da Hochman argued: “The previous DA’s motion did not review or consider whether the Menendez brothers showed full insight and took full responsibility for their crimes by continuing to lie about their self-defense claims for 30 years.

A creepy crime scene photo shows Jose Menendez’s bloody sofa shot

But police transferred their suspicions to Lyle and Eric shortly after their parents died.

Lyle bought a Porsche Carrera, Rolex watches and two restaurants, while his brother hired a full-time tennis coach to start the game.

Seven months after the murder, they spent $700,000 between the death of their parents and the arrest in March 1990.

Erik – who said his father began to abuse him from the age of six to 12 – insisted in the new documentary that it was “ridiculous”, suggesting he had a great time immediately after the murder.

“It’s all about covering up the terrible pain of not wanting to live,” he said.

“One thing that stops me from committing suicide is that I will lose my father altogether.”

The two also talked about the lies they told in their initial investigation to avoid punishment.

Eric said: “There should be a response from the police and we will be arrested. We don’t have alibi. Gunpowder residues are everywhere.

Under normal circumstances, they provide you with gunpowder residue tests. We will be arrested immediately.

‘My car has shells – my car is in the search area. All they have to do is search my car. If they just put pressure on me, I wouldn’t be able to withstand any problems. I’m in a completely broken mind.

“I told the detective the smoke I saw that it would be impossible if I didn’t. Incredibly, we were not arrested that night. We should have been there.

Gascón opened up possible doors of freedom for the brothers by asking the judge to reduce the sentence.

The Gascon’s office said that due to modern understanding of sexual abuse and trauma and the brothers’ recovery in 30 years of prison, today’s cases will be different.

Gascón’s petition for resentment highlights the brothers’ achievements and recovery.

Since their conviction, the brothers have been educated, attended self-help classes, and set up various support groups for their inmates.