Key Takeaways:

• The resentencing hearing for Lyle and Erik Menendez has been delayed to March 20-21, 2024, due to wildfires in Los Angeles.
• Los Angeles County's new District Attorney Nathan Hochman is reviewing the brothers' case following new evidence of past abuse.
• The hearing was originally scheduled for January 30-31 but has faced multiple delays.
• Ongoing wildfires in the region have temporarily disrupted court operations and led to significant destruction.
• The Menendez brothers have been serving life sentences since their 1996 conviction for the 1989 murder of their parents.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The long-awaited resentencing hearing for brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez, convicted in the 1989 murders of their parents, has been postponed again due to the devastating wildfires affecting Los Angeles County. Initially set for January 30-31, the hearing is now slated for March 20-21, 2024, as announced by LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman on Friday.

This marks the second postponement since Hochman assumed office and inherits a case that has attracted public interest following new allegations of sexual abuse against their father, Jose Menendez. In a previous statement, Hochman indicated his willingness to review the case meticulously before deciding on the brothers' future, stating, "The hearings have been postponed due to the impact of recent wildfires on the parties' extensive preparations" (BBC).

This postponement comes amid the ongoing response to the Palisades and Eaton wildfires, which have reportedly taken at least 27 lives, burn thousands of structures, and dramatically affected local court operations, though all courthouses remain operational (AP News).

Originally convicted of murder in 1996, the Menendez brothers were sentenced to consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole. Their defense claimed they acted in self-defense after enduring years of abuse, a claim that was controversial during their trials. Earlier proposals for resentencing, including a recommended 50 years to life by Hochman's predecessor, were seen as politically charged moves in the context of Hochman's election battle against Gascon (BBC).

The hearings, now pushed to March, will examine whether sufficient grounds for resentencing exists. Prosecutors and defense teams are seeking clarity amid the wildfire crisis, underscoring the broader challenges facing the region at this time.