Governor Newsom asks for an investigation of ‘risk assessment’ of the Menéndez brothers – Orange County Registry

Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered the State’s probation board to carry out a “risk assessment research” of Erik and Lyle Menéndez, who serve prison sentences for life. shotgun murders of their parents in Beverly Hills but they have asked the Governor’s office for a forgiveness or switching of their sentences.

Newsom described the investigation as a common procedure carried out by the State, but had previously indicated that it would differ any decision on the case of the Menéndez brothers to the local courts and prosecutors. The lawyers of the brothers have presented judicial motions in search of a new trial or recreation in the hope that they will be released.

But Newsom now says that he has asked the State Probation Board to at least prepare the risk assessment as part of his switching requests.

“The question for the Board is simple: Erik and Lyle Menéndez represent a current what we call” unreasonable risk for public safety, “said Newsom in comments recorded on video reported for the first time by TMZ?” The risk assessment will be carried out as typically performed, by experts in public and forensic safe psychologists. “

Newsom said the conclusions will be shared with the Judge of the Superior Court of Los Angeles that preside over the case, as well as with the district prosecutor and defense lawyers.

“There is no guarantee of results here,” said Newsom. “My office performs dozens and dozens of these clemency reviews in a consistent way, but this process simply provides more transparency, which I think is important in this case, and provides us with more due diligence before making any determination of clemency.”

Erik Menéndez, 54, and Lyle Menéndez, 57, are following a variety of roads hoping to be released from prison after the murders of his parents, José and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menéndez, on August 20, 1989.

Nathan Hochman district prosecutor announced last week that His office will oppose the request of the brothers of a new trial. – Questioning the admissibility and relevance of the defense lawyers of the “new evidence” have produced in support of their claim, the brothers were sexually abused by their father.

Hochman has not yet taken a position on his motion of resentment. The defense lawyers ask that their sentence be reduced in a way that makes them eligible for the consideration of probation or to release in time already served.

Newsom could also rule on the request for clemency or switching of the brothers at any time.

The relatives of the Menéndez brothers are supporting their impulse to be released. They condemned Hochman’s announcement last week that would oppose a new trial.

“Nathan Hochman district prosecutor took us back to 1996 today,” according to a statement from Justice for the Erik and Lyle coalition, which includes members and supporters of the Menéndez family. “He opened the wounds that have passed decades trying to heal. He did not listen to us. We are deeply disappointed by his comments, in which he effectively broke new evidence and discredited the trauma they experienced. ”

The family continued: “suggesting that the years of abuse could not have led to the tragedy in 1989 is not only scandalous, but also dangerous. Abuse does not exist in a vacuum. Leave durable scars, he wiring the brain again and catches the victims into cycles of fear and trauma. To say that he did not play any role in the action of Erik and Lyle is to ignore decades of psychological research and basic human understanding. “

Two members of the coalition had been scheduled to hold a virtual press conference on Wednesday afternoon to give an update on the case, but that event has been rescheduled for Thursday.

IN A A 2023 Court Petition, Attorneys for the Brothers Pointed To Two New Pieces Of Evidence they Contend Corroborate The Brothers’ Allegions of Long-Term Sexual Abuse at The Hands of Their Father-A Letter Allegedly Written by Erik Menendez To His Cousin Andy Cany Cany In Early 1989 1988, Eight Months Before the August 1989 Killings, and Recent Allegations by Roy Rosselló, to Former Member of the Puerto Rican Boy Band often, which he was also sexually abused by José Menéndez when he was a teenager.

The interest in the case increased after the launch of a recent documentary and dramatic series of Netflix.

During their two very publicized judgments, the brothers did not argue that they killed their parents, but affirmed self -defense, citing decades of alleged physical and sexual abuse by their father. Prosecutors responded that the murders were financially motivated, noting that the brothers of the brothers of expenses of expenses after the murders.

Originally published: February 26, 2025 at 1:13 PM PST