Drama and Documentary on 1989 Murder Case Gain Attention
Menendez Brothers Serving Life Sentences
"Sexual Abuse and Other Factors Not Properly Considered" Criticism Continues
A Netflix American drama based on a true murder case that occurred 35 years ago is igniting discussions about the retrial of the murderer who is currently serving a life sentence without parole. Viewers who closely analyzed the motive of the murderer in the drama and examined the trial process are raising their voices, claiming that circumstances warranting leniency at the time were overlooked. Judicial authorities have also confirmed new evidence, lending support to the retrial discussions.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) recently reported that the popularity of the Netflix series "Monster: The Menendez Brothers Story" in the United States has fueled growing calls for the Menendez brothers, who are serving life sentences without parole, to have their trial reconsidered.
According to the report, groups consisting of teenage TikTok users, Los Angeles (LA) public officials in California, and relatives of the Menendez brothers have urged judicial authorities to reopen the trial of the Menendez brothers. Hollywood star Kim Kardashian personally visited the Menendez brothers in prison and publicly appealed, saying, "While it is true they committed murder, the sentence is too harsh."
Eric and Lyle Menendez were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for brutally murdering their parents in Beverly Hills, LA, in 1989. At the time of the incident, their father Jose and mother Kitty, executives in the film and music industry, were shot multiple times with a hunting shotgun. After the crime, the brothers misled the investigation with lies and enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, leading prosecutors to conclude that the brothers committed the crime motivated by greed for their parents' money.
However, during the trial, the brothers claimed they had been subjected to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse by their parents and that they fired the gun in self-defense to protect themselves. The first trial ended inconclusively due to a split jury, and in the retrial, evidence of the brothers lying surfaced, leading to the rejection of the abuse claims. The brothers have now been incarcerated for 31 years.
A scene from the Netflix series "Monster: The Menendez Brothers Story," which deals with the story of the murderer Menendez brothers [Image source=AP Yonhap News]
Netflix recently released both a crime drama and a documentary covering the story of the Menendez brothers. Both the drama and documentary have remained highly popular, ranking in the top 10 on Netflix. Hollywood star writer Ryan Murphy depicted the trial process in detail in the drama, encouraging viewers to reconsider the motives behind the Menendez brothers' crime.
Over more than 30 years, changes in awareness regarding child abuse have significantly altered perspectives on the case, which has also influenced calls for a retrial. Marcia Clark, who was a prosecutor in LA, told WSJ that in the 1990s when the trial took place, there was a lack of social understanding about child abuse trauma, and the Menendez brothers were perceived as "wealthy, spoiled kids," which likely influenced the outcome.
Additionally, LA District Attorney George Gasc?n has strengthened the possibility of a retrial by revealing new evidence related to the Menendez brothers' murder case. It was reported that in November last year, Eric sent a letter to a cousin a few months before killing his parents, implying that he had been sexually abused. Prosecutor Gasc?n announced that the court hearing for the case review is scheduled for the 26th of next month.
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