The new L.A. District Attorney Nathan Hochman, the rare Republican to hold the position, is speaking out to talk about the ongoing high profile case of Lyle and Erik Menendez.
New DA Sounds Off On Menendez Brothers
Hochman is inheriting this case from incumbent George Gascón, widely considered one of the most progressive prosecutors in the country, who announced last month that he supports resentencing the brothers. They were convicted back in 1995 of the 1989 murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez.
The brothers were each sentenced to life in prison. However, many are arguing that they should be released after they alleged that their father abused them. Those backing the move argue that the Menendez brothers have paid their debt to society. They believe that the brothers deserve a second chance at life.
“Here’s my approach, whether it’s the Menendez case or quite honestly any case: you have to do the hard work,” Hochman told KTLA on Wednesday. “You have to look, in that case, at thousands of pages of confidential prison files, you have to review thousands of trial transcripts from months-long trials, and you have to speak to the prosecutors, law enforcement and the defense counsel…and the victims’ families.”
“Only then can you be in a position to determine whether resentencing is the remedy in this situation or whether what is asked for in the resentencing is the appropriate request,” he continued. “I’m not in that position now, but I can tell you if I do have to make that call, I will do the hard work to make the right decision.”
Check out Hochman’s full comments on this in the video below.
Related: Rosie O’Donnell Feels Like The ‘Big Sister’ Of The Menendez Brothers
Hochman Doubles Down
Hochman said in another statement that he wants to do due diligence on the Menendez brothers’ case.
“Before I can make any decision about the Menendez brothers’ case, I will need to become thoroughly familiar with the relevant facts, the evidence and the law,” Hochman said.
“I will have to review the confidential prison files for each brother, the transcripts from both trials, and speak to the prosecutors, law enforcement, defense counsel, and the victims’ family members,” he added.
The hearing about potentially resentencing the Menendez brothers is scheduled for December 11. This would give Hochman just nine days to review the case after he takes office on December 2.
“If for some reason I need additional time, I will ask the court for that time,” Hochman concluded.
Gascón Recommends Resentencing
On October 24, Gascón announced that his office is recommending that the Menendez brothers be resentenced.
“There are people in the office that strongly believe that the Menendez brothers should stay in prison the rest of their life, and they do not believe that they were molested,” Gascón said at the time. “And there are people in the office that strongly believe that they should be released immediately, and that they were, in fact, molested.”
Gascón added that he doesn’t want their alleged abuse to “excuse” the killings. However, he also stated that “after a very careful review of all the arguments,” he would submit his recommendation.
Lyle was 21 and Erik was 18 at the time of the murders. They are currently 56 and 53, respectively. It will certainly be interesting to see how this turns out for them both!
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