Family of Erik and Lyle Menendez call for their release ahead of murder case review
ABCWarning: This article discusses abuse. Multiple family members of convicted US killers Erik and Lyle Menendez have publicly pleaded for the brothers' release from prison, arguing they would not have received the same treatment in court today as they did when they were sentenced. The brothers have spent more than 30 years in jail, serving life sentences for the murder of their entertainment executive father, José Menendez, and their mother, Kitty Menendez in Beverly Hills in 1989. "If Lyle and Erik's case were heard today, with the understanding we now have about abuse and PTSD, there is no doubt in my mind that their sentencing would have been very different," Anamaria Baralt, a niece of Jose Menendez, said. New evidence under review The press conference came after the Los Angeles County district attorney George Gascón announced a review of new evidence to determine whether the brothers should be serving life sentences.