Denied Parole Due to "Threat to Public Safety"
Eric Menendez, the younger of the Menendez brothers who are serving life sentences for shooting and killing their biological parents in the United States in 1989, has been denied parole at the age of 53.
According to foreign media outlets including the Associated Press on August 21 (local time), the California parole board denied Eric Menendez’s parole, citing concerns that he poses a threat to public safety. Previously, in a retrial this past May, his sentence was reduced from "life without parole" to "life with the possibility of parole after 50 years," making him eligible for parole. However, as a result of this hearing, he will not be eligible for parole for the next three years.
Shot and killed biological parents in 1989
The Menendez brothers, who were 21 and 18 years old in 1989, purchased a shotgun together and were tried for shooting and killing their father, Jose Menendez, and mother, Kitty Menendez, at their home in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles. The case drew significant public attention, not only because their father Jose was a prominent entertainment executive at companies such as RCA Records, but also due to the shocking nature of wealthy children murdering their biological parents. The brothers were convicted by a jury and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
During the parole hearing, Eric gave detailed testimony about his childhood, the circumstances at the time of the crime, and the changes he has experienced in prison. However, parole board member Robert Barton stated that the denial of parole was due not to the severity of the crime, but to Eric Menendez’s behavior in prison, citing violations such as drug smuggling, cellphone use, and incidents of violence in 1997 and 2011. He added, "Contrary to what his supporters believe, Eric Menendez has never been a model inmate," and noted, "This is somewhat concerning."
Claimed, "Father sexually abused us... Feared being killed, which led to the crime"
Relatives of the brothers have expressed hope for their parole, arguing that the two have already served 35 years and have repaid their debt to society.
This case continued to be featured in various documentaries and dramas even after the trials concluded in 1996. In particular, the Netflix series "Monster: The Menendez Brothers Story," released in September last year, gained popularity and reignited public interest in the United States.
The Menendez brothers admitted to the crime itself, but claimed that their father had sexually abused them for years, and that they committed the murders out of fear that their parents would kill them to prevent the abuse from being exposed. However, prosecutors argued that there was no evidence Jose Menendez had sexually assaulted his sons, and asserted that the brothers were motivated by a desire to inherit their parents’ wealth.
Meanwhile, the parole hearing for the older brother, Lyle Menendez, 56, will be held on August 22.
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