A group of parents of murdered children demanded Wednesday that Erik and Lyle Menendez not be re-sentenced for the killings of their parents, insisting that they should “do every day” of their original sentences of life in state prison without the possibility of parole.
“This re-sentencing of the Menendez brothers I am against because it’s sending a message to all murderers that (they) have a second opportunity to be released,” Emma Rivas said at Wednesday’s news conference at the San Pedro offices of the support and advocacy group Justice for Murdered Children.
“Because 30 years from today I do not want to walk in the store and see the murderer of my child. They (the Menendez brothers) were given life without patrol, and (the court) should stay with that because they murdered their parents,” added Rivas, whose son was shot to death in 2016.
The Menendez brothers are expected to have a re-sentencing hearing Thursday in a Van Nuys courtroom after a judge ruled they could move forward with the proceedings. The pair were convicted in 1996 on first-degree murder charges for the shotgun killings of their parents, Jose and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez in 1989.
Prosecutors object to the brothers being re-sentenced, while defense attorneys are hoping to have them re-sentenced to a lesser term, either allowing them to be released or become eligible for parole.
“Murder is a horrendous crime … re-sentencing these individuals will not only undermine the justice system but will perpetuate the culture of violence and victim-blaming,” said LaWanda Hawkins, who founded JMC after the loss of her son, Reginald, who was murdered in December 1995.
“We’re saying no to the re-sentencing of murderers who show no remorse and no accountability for what they’ve done,” she said. “We deserve a second chance, too.”
Community activist and organizer Najee Ali said “there’s no way” the Menendez brothers should be released.
The Menendez brothers case
A timeline of the 35-year history of the Lyle and Erik Menendez case Family of Erik and Lyle Menendez call for their release and say they’re victims who were vilified Gov. Newsom calls for a ‘risk assessment’ investigation of Menendez brothers Months after re-sentencing hearing, Menendez brothers have parole board hearings on the books Menendez brothers’ family calls for re-sentencing, ‘redemption based on second chances’“The fact is, the Menendez brothers were convicted of killing both their parents in what we call an execution,” he said. “There’s no way they should ever be released from prison for what they did. They show no remorse and they have not accepted responsibility for the murders of their father and mother.”
Several of those who spoke Wednesday expressed strong support for new L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, who opposes the possible re-sentencing of the pair.
“I want to thank Nathan Hochman for doing a phenomenal job,” a JMC member said. “Keep those guys in jail.”
Ali said the organization believes the possible re-sentencing of the Menendez brothers is a “travesty. They should do every day they earned and deserve. They’ve already had their day in court. In fact, they’ve had two days in court — the first trial and the second trial where they were found guilty.”
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