• Los Angeles County DA Nathan Hochman has opposed a petition from the Menendez brothers seeking a new trial based on new evidence.
• Hochman questions the credibility of claims of sexual abuse made by the brothers as a motive for their parents' murder.
• A hearing regarding potential resentencing for the brothers is set for March 20.
• Public interest in the case has surged due to the airing of new documentaries and series covering their long history since the 1989 killings.
• The brothers’ efforts to obtain clemency are also dependent on Hochman’s recommendations.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has requested that the court deny a habeas corpus petition from the Menendez brothers, Erik and Lyle, who are seeking a new trial or for their convictions to be vacated. The brothers, who were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after their 1996 murder conviction for the fatal shootings of their parents in 1989, have argued that new evidence supports claims of abuse. However, Hochman has expressed skepticism about this evidence, which includes a letter supposedly detailing abuse and allegations from a former member of the boy band Menudo regarding similar experiences with the brothers' father, Jose Menendez.

Hochman emphasized that the authenticity of the letter is questionable, stating, “If this letter truly existed, the defense counsel would have absolutely used it at the trial because it would help corroborate” testimonies presented. He further insisted that sexual abuse, while a potential motivator for the pair's actions, does not equate to self-defense, leading to his opposition to the petition for a new trial. Public attention to the case has spiked lately, largely due to various films and documentaries that have revisited this notorious and tragic narrative of affluent privilege turned violent.

The last district attorney, George Gascón, had previously recommended that the Menendez brothers be resentenced to potentially allow for parole, asserting that they had paid their debt to society. However, Hochman has not yet made a decision on whether to support this resentencing despite the upcoming hearing scheduled for March 20, 2025. Legal experts suggest that addressing the brothers' claims of rehabilitation during their decades in prison will be a key focus of this hearing.

Family members and advocates for the brothers have expressed disappointment in Hochman's stance, criticizing his dismissive approach to the new evidence and urging the public to consider the broader implications of the case on justice and the experiences of abuse victims. Some have emphasized that the brothers have committed themselves to rehabilitation programs during their incarceration, further complicating the narrative of their original convictions.

As the legal battle continues, many anticipate the upcoming court proceedings to clarify the future for the Menendez brothers, who remain locked in a struggle for their freedom amid complex narratives of trauma, privilege, and allegations of systemic failure within the justice system. For more information on this ongoing case, visit The New York Times and CBS News.