The Menendez Brothers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read all the evidence of their sexual abuse and I don’t know, man, that is some awful stuff.

Evidence of sexual abuse, or the boys' accounts of it? The problem is that they were/are serial liars. It's hard to know what to believe. Now one of them is coming out and claiming his mom sexually abused him too? They know the case for murdering mom was weak so they're now embellishing it. We also have no idea what the extent of the abuse was or whether the mom actually knew about it. Once more we only have their (unreliable) word for this. Do I believe they grew up in a horrible home? Yes. Do I believe every word that comes out of their mouths? No, not even close.

I agree with a PP this was vengeance not self-defense. Because they are untrustworthy narrators who continue to break the rules, I also agree they should stay where they are.

Did you miss the part where a member of
Menudo also stated that he was molested by their father as well? He was obviously a pedophile.

And his sons carry his DNA.

This is true of any child that is sexually abused by a parent. And what does that have to do with his other victims?

Only a very small percentage become murderers.

They did not murder random strangers but their parents who had been abusing them for years.

They are, in fact, murderers.

So are many people - many military fighters, police officers, and people who defend themselves against assailants or armed robbers.

There are many different layers of murder as indicated by the law. Experiencing Sexual abuse as a child is considered mitigating evidence in cases of people who have murdered their abusers in most US courts of criminal law.

The brothers are human as are you and I. I had a wonderful father and can’t imagine living through the horrors they did.

They are obviously not perfect but they have already lost their youth, early adulthood and middle life years to jail time. The prison warden at a jail where they served time for years wrote a letter in support of releasing them due to extensive evidence that they had rehabilitated and were contributing to prison community love in important ways.

It is not serving society well by wasting tax payer money on keeping them locked up during their sunset years. They should be free now.

You disgust me with your attempt to compare these two sociopaths with police officers, military fighters, and people defending themselves against an assailant. Go peddle your BS to someone else.

You’re disgusted by the idea of context being inportant?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it hard to read the "I don't think they were abused" or "it wasn't because of the abuse" comments, after reading details about the abuse that are too specific to reasonably be made up. The details sound credible and horrific. It was extremely frequent. There was "nice" sexual abuse and "bad" sexual abuse, depending on whether they were being punished vs "rewarded" for something. The kid snapped after they told him he couldn't leave for college, which he'd been holding out as his escape from the lifelong abuse. The mother actively enabled it. I find it entirely feasible that they were that desperate and angry and terrified, all of the things. It's not an excuse by any means, and it also doesn't mean they're good people (don't know them from spam), but I do believe that's what happened.

+1

I didn’t read the whole thread but this comment resonates. My perspective is from decades of work as a DV advocate, defense attorney and prosecutor, and attorney for children, parents and the state in the child welfare court. I’ve seen a very great deal and been very extensively and well educated by professionals in all the relevant areas that pertain to this case.

Kitty and Jose Menendez were horrible abusers, nobody should be defending them in any respect. Yes it is equally awful abuse to be fully aware your children are being raped and to do nothing to protect them - never mind the other psychological abuse that was inflicted by the domestic abuse in the family system which is corroborated by Jose’s own family - they all know he was a bastard to his wife and kids.

At the same time the two sons can be spoiled entitled etc. and of course there is every possibility that they have disordered personalities because they’ve been raped by their own father for many years and cruelly bullied by him as well. That is early childhood trauma people, of course they aren’t perfect people after going through the abuse and trauma they had no way to leave and no protection from.

People are reacting viscerally to the killing of parents which I get, but a great many of you are not applying reason to the total set of facts.

30+ years for a murder of tormentors committed by damaged boys whose brains were not fully developed seems like a reasonable place to begin considering if we really believe in the rehabilitation we preach. Their infractions have been very minor and their accomplishments in prison extensive, from everything I’ve read. They heard the concerns of the board and can address those concerns and if the board is honest they will reward them next time they are considered for release assuming the record shows they’ve made the progress requested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read all the evidence of their sexual abuse and I don’t know, man, that is some awful stuff.

Evidence of sexual abuse, or the boys' accounts of it? The problem is that they were/are serial liars. It's hard to know what to believe. Now one of them is coming out and claiming his mom sexually abused him too? They know the case for murdering mom was weak so they're now embellishing it. We also have no idea what the extent of the abuse was or whether the mom actually knew about it. Once more we only have their (unreliable) word for this. Do I believe they grew up in a horrible home? Yes. Do I believe every word that comes out of their mouths? No, not even close.

I agree with a PP this was vengeance not self-defense. Because they are untrustworthy narrators who continue to break the rules, I also agree they should stay where they are.

Did you miss the part where a member of
Menudo also stated that he was molested by their father as well? He was obviously a pedophile.

And his sons carry his DNA.

This is true of any child that is sexually abused by a parent. And what does that have to do with his other victims?

Only a very small percentage become murderers.

They did not murder random strangers but their parents who had been abusing them for years.

They are, in fact, murderers.

So are many people - many military fighters, police officers, and people who defend themselves against assailants or armed robbers.

There are many different layers of murder as indicated by the law. Experiencing Sexual abuse as a child is considered mitigating evidence in cases of people who have murdered their abusers in most US courts of criminal law.

The brothers are human as are you and I. I had a wonderful father and can’t imagine living through the horrors they did.

They are obviously not perfect but they have already lost their youth, early adulthood and middle life years to jail time. The prison warden at a jail where they served time for years wrote a letter in support of releasing them due to extensive evidence that they had rehabilitated and were contributing to prison community love in important ways.

It is not serving society well by wasting tax payer money on keeping them locked up during their sunset years. They should be free now.

You disgust me with your attempt to compare these two sociopaths with police officers, military fighters, and people defending themselves against an assailant. Go peddle your BS to someone else.

You’re disgusted by the idea of context being inportant?

That's not what I said or implied. I don't think the "context" of the comparisons you made are remotely the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it hard to read the "I don't think they were abused" or "it wasn't because of the abuse" comments, after reading details about the abuse that are too specific to reasonably be made up. The details sound credible and horrific. It was extremely frequent. There was "nice" sexual abuse and "bad" sexual abuse, depending on whether they were being punished vs "rewarded" for something. The kid snapped after they told him he couldn't leave for college, which he'd been holding out as his escape from the lifelong abuse. The mother actively enabled it. I find it entirely feasible that they were that desperate and angry and terrified, all of the things. It's not an excuse by any means, and it also doesn't mean they're good people (don't know them from spam), but I do believe that's what happened.

+1

I didn’t read the whole thread but this comment resonates. My perspective is from decades of work as a DV advocate, defense attorney and prosecutor, and attorney for children, parents and the state in the child welfare court. I’ve seen a very great deal and been very extensively and well educated by professionals in all the relevant areas that pertain to this case.

Kitty and Jose Menendez were horrible abusers, nobody should be defending them in any respect. Yes it is equally awful abuse to be fully aware your children are being raped and to do nothing to protect them - never mind the other psychological abuse that was inflicted by the domestic abuse in the family system which is corroborated by Jose’s own family - they all know he was a bastard to his wife and kids.

At the same time the two sons can be spoiled entitled etc. and of course there is every possibility that they have disordered personalities because they’ve been raped by their own father for many years and cruelly bullied by him as well. That is early childhood trauma people, of course they aren’t perfect people after going through the abuse and trauma they had no way to leave and no protection from.

People are reacting viscerally to the killing of parents which I get, but a great many of you are not applying reason to the total set of facts.

30+ years for a murder of tormentors committed by damaged boys whose brains were not fully developed seems like a reasonable place to begin considering if we really believe in the rehabilitation we preach. Their infractions have been very minor and their accomplishments in prison extensive, from everything I’ve read. They heard the concerns of the board and can address those concerns and if the board is honest they will reward them next time they are considered for release assuming the record shows they’ve made the progress requested.

Plus one

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it hard to read the "I don't think they were abused" or "it wasn't because of the abuse" comments, after reading details about the abuse that are too specific to reasonably be made up. The details sound credible and horrific. It was extremely frequent. There was "nice" sexual abuse and "bad" sexual abuse, depending on whether they were being punished vs "rewarded" for something. The kid snapped after they told him he couldn't leave for college, which he'd been holding out as his escape from the lifelong abuse. The mother actively enabled it. I find it entirely feasible that they were that desperate and angry and terrified, all of the things. It's not an excuse by any means, and it also doesn't mean they're good people (don't know them from spam), but I do believe that's what happened.

+1

I didn’t read the whole thread but this comment resonates. My perspective is from decades of work as a DV advocate, defense attorney and prosecutor, and attorney for children, parents and the state in the child welfare court. I’ve seen a very great deal and been very extensively and well educated by professionals in all the relevant areas that pertain to this case.

Kitty and Jose Menendez were horrible abusers, nobody should be defending them in any respect. Yes it is equally awful abuse to be fully aware your children are being raped and to do nothing to protect them - never mind the other psychological abuse that was inflicted by the domestic abuse in the family system which is corroborated by Jose’s own family - they all know he was a bastard to his wife and kids.

At the same time the two sons can be spoiled entitled etc. and of course there is every possibility that they have disordered personalities because they’ve been raped by their own father for many years and cruelly bullied by him as well. That is early childhood trauma people, of course they aren’t perfect people after going through the abuse and trauma they had no way to leave and no protection from.

People are reacting viscerally to the killing of parents which I get, but a great many of you are not applying reason to the total set of facts.

30+ years for a murder of tormentors committed by damaged boys whose brains were not fully developed seems like a reasonable place to begin considering if we really believe in the rehabilitation we preach. Their infractions have been very minor and their accomplishments in prison extensive, from everything I’ve read. They heard the concerns of the board and can address those concerns and if the board is honest they will reward them next time they are considered for release assuming the record shows they’ve made the progress requested.

Charles Manson was horribly abused in childhood. Did you think he should be released, too?

[Anonymous]

I cannot believe those that think these men should be freed.
The gist here is that these two premeditated a murder - a murder of two human beings.
They planned the murder in advance (obviously so) then lied about doing so after the fact.
They then went on multiple spending sprees almost immediately in the aftermath, then once they were caught they used a common technique = the abuse excuse.

They have zero proof that they had been abused, one statement from another person who claimed they were abused by one of their victims is simply not enough.
(I haven’t heard that the former Menudo member who allegedly was abused by their dad testified in depth about said abuse).

**
If these two were actually rehabilitated during their incarceration they would have followed prison rules.
Instead they justified their infractions using excuses.
Ex: they smuggled in cell phones which in jail were illegal contraband.
Their reasoning?
That they were afraid that their phone calls would be recorded, then leaked publicly due to their notoriety.

See a familiar pattern here?

[Anonymous]

(Cont.)
When they break rules/laws, they try to justify doing so to paint themselves as victims.

If they cannot follow laws inside jail they most certainly will be unable to follow them if they are part of society again.
And then taxpayers will likely foot the bill for any legal measures that would follow.

The best thing would be to keep them locked up until they both are deceased which will keep the public safe too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it hard to read the "I don't think they were abused" or "it wasn't because of the abuse" comments, after reading details about the abuse that are too specific to reasonably be made up. The details sound credible and horrific. It was extremely frequent. There was "nice" sexual abuse and "bad" sexual abuse, depending on whether they were being punished vs "rewarded" for something. The kid snapped after they told him he couldn't leave for college, which he'd been holding out as his escape from the lifelong abuse. The mother actively enabled it. I find it entirely feasible that they were that desperate and angry and terrified, all of the things. It's not an excuse by any means, and it also doesn't mean they're good people (don't know them from spam), but I do believe that's what happened.

+1

I didn’t read the whole thread but this comment resonates. My perspective is from decades of work as a DV advocate, defense attorney and prosecutor, and attorney for children, parents and the state in the child welfare court. I’ve seen a very great deal and been very extensively and well educated by professionals in all the relevant areas that pertain to this case.

Kitty and Jose Menendez were horrible abusers, nobody should be defending them in any respect. Yes it is equally awful abuse to be fully aware your children are being raped and to do nothing to protect them - never mind the other psychological abuse that was inflicted by the domestic abuse in the family system which is corroborated by Jose’s own family - they all know he was a bastard to his wife and kids.

At the same time the two sons can be spoiled entitled etc. and of course there is every possibility that they have disordered personalities because they’ve been raped by their own father for many years and cruelly bullied by him as well. That is early childhood trauma people, of course they aren’t perfect people after going through the abuse and trauma they had no way to leave and no protection from.

People are reacting viscerally to the killing of parents which I get, but a great many of you are not applying reason to the total set of facts.

30+ years for a murder of tormentors committed by damaged boys whose brains were not fully developed seems like a reasonable place to begin considering if we really believe in the rehabilitation we preach. Their infractions have been very minor and their accomplishments in prison extensive, from everything I’ve read. They heard the concerns of the board and can address those concerns and if the board is honest they will reward them next time they are considered for release assuming the record shows they’ve made the progress requested.

Charles Manson was horribly abused in childhood. Did you think he should be released, too?

Yes he should be released. He can’t do any more harm at this point

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They murdered their parents because they are murderers, not because they were abused. Lots of people are abused and it doesn't make them kill their abusers. They were adults. They could have walked away or called the police. They could have written a tell-all. They could have said, "You're dead to me. I will never see or speak to you again." Instead they killed them. Because they are murderers.

I don’t think anyone is arguing they shouldn’t have been convicted for murder. But jail is supposed to be both punitive and rehabilitative. They’ve served 30 years and they appear to be rehabilitated. So why are they still in jail?

Agree

They served their time. They are not a threat to society.

There is Solid corroborating evidence that they were sexually molested by their dad. Who would not be messed up after living through such abuse by the people who supposed to protect you?

They have spouses who love them.

It is both inhumane and a waste of tax payers money to keep them in jail.

What is the “solid” evidence that you are referring to here?
The fact that one person claimed they were sexually abused by their Father??
I wouldn’t call that solid evidence in regards to the letter of the law.

And they paid their debt to society??
Most people who murder more than one person (in CA) are often eligible for the death penalty.
Even if they had gotten parole last week, they were no where near what most people who kill multiple people get as a penalty.

I think keeping them in prison is an efficient use of taxpayer dollars.
Because if they got out, it is very clear that they wouldn’t be able to conform to society’s rules since they cannot even follow basic prison ones.

Evidence supporting claims that the Menendez brothers were sexually molested by their father includes:

1. a 1988 letter from Erik Menendez to his cousin detailing the abuse; and

2. a recent declaration from Roy Rosselló, a former Menudo band member, alleging he was also sexually assaulted by Jose Menendez.

These pieces of evidence were excluded or unknown at their original trials. I agree with their lawyers that they should be considered for a reduced sentence based on the significance of lifetime abuse.

LA District Attorney George Gascón: He wrote letters to California Governor Gavin Newsom supporting clemency for the brothers before he left office.

Fellow prison staff and inmates: During their recent parole hearings, prison employees testified as character witnesses regarding their good behavior and rehabilitation.

Over a dozen family members, including aunts and cousins, have provided emotional statements and letters of support for the brothers.

While I respect your comprehensive response, I cannot in good faith be convinced that these two premeditated two examples that you provided are stable enough to call for the release of two self-confessed murderers.

The letter that was written could have been part of the premeditation (like purchasing the guns used) of their murder plan.
Also the sexual abuse by the former Menudo member is simply an allegation >> there is no mitigating evidence that can prove Jose actually abused this person.

No written messages or even phone messages, etc.

And yes, Jose likely was a huge jerk (even much worse!) to his family, however his two sons knew where the door was and could have rightfully left home.
When they were minors they could have stayed w/one of their relatives that are claiming now that Jose abused his family.

Yet instead they chose to exact mortal revenge, then get paid for it claiming self defense made them do it.
What explains the shopping sprees afterward??

And who really believes that their jail infractions were minor?
Running an elaborate tax scheme with a drug gang does not sound benign to me.
Nor does selling drugs behind bars…..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it hard to read the "I don't think they were abused" or "it wasn't because of the abuse" comments, after reading details about the abuse that are too specific to reasonably be made up. The details sound credible and horrific. It was extremely frequent. There was "nice" sexual abuse and "bad" sexual abuse, depending on whether they were being punished vs "rewarded" for something. The kid snapped after they told him he couldn't leave for college, which he'd been holding out as his escape from the lifelong abuse. The mother actively enabled it. I find it entirely feasible that they were that desperate and angry and terrified, all of the things. It's not an excuse by any means, and it also doesn't mean they're good people (don't know them from spam), but I do believe that's what happened.

+1

I didn’t read the whole thread but this comment resonates. My perspective is from decades of work as a DV advocate, defense attorney and prosecutor, and attorney for children, parents and the state in the child welfare court. I’ve seen a very great deal and been very extensively and well educated by professionals in all the relevant areas that pertain to this case.

Kitty and Jose Menendez were horrible abusers, nobody should be defending them in any respect. Yes it is equally awful abuse to be fully aware your children are being raped and to do nothing to protect them - never mind the other psychological abuse that was inflicted by the domestic abuse in the family system which is corroborated by Jose’s own family - they all know he was a bastard to his wife and kids.

At the same time the two sons can be spoiled entitled etc. and of course there is every possibility that they have disordered personalities because they’ve been raped by their own father for many years and cruelly bullied by him as well. That is early childhood trauma people, of course they aren’t perfect people after going through the abuse and trauma they had no way to leave and no protection from.

People are reacting viscerally to the killing of parents which I get, but a great many of you are not applying reason to the total set of facts.

30+ years for a murder of tormentors committed by damaged boys whose brains were not fully developed seems like a reasonable place to begin considering if we really believe in the rehabilitation we preach. Their infractions have been very minor and their accomplishments in prison extensive, from everything I’ve read. They heard the concerns of the board and can address those concerns and if the board is honest they will reward them next time they are considered for release assuming the record shows they’ve made the progress requested.

Charles Manson was horribly abused in childhood. Did you think he should be released, too?

Yes he should be released. He can’t do any more harm at this point

Context matters here,
DID you think was pertaining to when Manson was actually alive -> not meaning now in the present tense since we all know he is deceased at this time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it hard to read the "I don't think they were abused" or "it wasn't because of the abuse" comments, after reading details about the abuse that are too specific to reasonably be made up. The details sound credible and horrific. It was extremely frequent. There was "nice" sexual abuse and "bad" sexual abuse, depending on whether they were being punished vs "rewarded" for something. The kid snapped after they told him he couldn't leave for college, which he'd been holding out as his escape from the lifelong abuse. The mother actively enabled it. I find it entirely feasible that they were that desperate and angry and terrified, all of the things. It's not an excuse by any means, and it also doesn't mean they're good people (don't know them from spam), but I do believe that's what happened.

+1

I didn’t read the whole thread but this comment resonates. My perspective is from decades of work as a DV advocate, defense attorney and prosecutor, and attorney for children, parents and the state in the child welfare court. I’ve seen a very great deal and been very extensively and well educated by professionals in all the relevant areas that pertain to this case.

Kitty and Jose Menendez were horrible abusers, nobody should be defending them in any respect. Yes it is equally awful abuse to be fully aware your children are being raped and to do nothing to protect them - never mind the other psychological abuse that was inflicted by the domestic abuse in the family system which is corroborated by Jose’s own family - they all know he was a bastard to his wife and kids.

At the same time the two sons can be spoiled entitled etc. and of course there is every possibility that they have disordered personalities because they’ve been raped by their own father for many years and cruelly bullied by him as well. That is early childhood trauma people, of course they aren’t perfect people after going through the abuse and trauma they had no way to leave and no protection from.

People are reacting viscerally to the killing of parents which I get, but a great many of you are not applying reason to the total set of facts.

30+ years for a murder of tormentors committed by damaged boys whose brains were not fully developed seems like a reasonable place to begin considering if we really believe in the rehabilitation we preach. Their infractions have been very minor and their accomplishments in prison extensive, from everything I’ve read. They heard the concerns of the board and can address those concerns and if the board is honest they will reward them next time they are considered for release assuming the record shows they’ve made the progress requested.

Charles Manson was horribly abused in childhood. Did you think he should be released, too?

Yes he should be released. He can’t do any more harm at this point

Context matters here,
DID you think was pertaining to when Manson was actually alive -> not meaning now in the present tense since we all know he is deceased at this time.

+1 Of course. That poster was just being a jerk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it hard to read the "I don't think they were abused" or "it wasn't because of the abuse" comments, after reading details about the abuse that are too specific to reasonably be made up. The details sound credible and horrific. It was extremely frequent. There was "nice" sexual abuse and "bad" sexual abuse, depending on whether they were being punished vs "rewarded" for something. The kid snapped after they told him he couldn't leave for college, which he'd been holding out as his escape from the lifelong abuse. The mother actively enabled it. I find it entirely feasible that they were that desperate and angry and terrified, all of the things. It's not an excuse by any means, and it also doesn't mean they're good people (don't know them from spam), but I do believe that's what happened.

+1

I didn’t read the whole thread but this comment resonates. My perspective is from decades of work as a DV advocate, defense attorney and prosecutor, and attorney for children, parents and the state in the child welfare court. I’ve seen a very great deal and been very extensively and well educated by professionals in all the relevant areas that pertain to this case.

Kitty and Jose Menendez were horrible abusers, nobody should be defending them in any respect. Yes it is equally awful abuse to be fully aware your children are being raped and to do nothing to protect them - never mind the other psychological abuse that was inflicted by the domestic abuse in the family system which is corroborated by Jose’s own family - they all know he was a bastard to his wife and kids.

At the same time the two sons can be spoiled entitled etc. and of course there is every possibility that they have disordered personalities because they’ve been raped by their own father for many years and cruelly bullied by him as well. That is early childhood trauma people, of course they aren’t perfect people after going through the abuse and trauma they had no way to leave and no protection from.

People are reacting viscerally to the killing of parents which I get, but a great many of you are not applying reason to the total set of facts.

30+ years for a murder of tormentors committed by damaged boys whose brains were not fully developed seems like a reasonable place to begin considering if we really believe in the rehabilitation we preach. Their infractions have been very minor and their accomplishments in prison extensive, from everything I’ve read. They heard the concerns of the board and can address those concerns and if the board is honest they will reward them next time they are considered for release assuming the record shows they’ve made the progress requested.

Charles Manson was horribly abused in childhood. Did you think he should be released, too?

Yes he should be released. He can’t do any more harm at this point

Context matters here,
DID you think was pertaining to when Manson was actually alive -> not meaning now in the present tense since we all know he is deceased at this time.

You do realize he did not actually kill anyone right? These 2 did.

[Anonymous]

They were adults that went back and killed their parents, and then went on a shopping spree.

Hmmmm ………

[Anonymous]

Just because you think these two men should remain behind bars does not mean that you do not believe that they were sexually molested.
I think they could have been, but that is really not relevant to this situation.

I do not think being sexually molested gives people a free license to commit murder - especially one as calculated and brutal such as this one was.
Of course if a minor is being abused and the abuser is threatening them with immediate bodily injury then that would be relevant.
But these two guys were both old enough to leave home w/o breaking any law, they were not mandated to live with their parents as they were no longer minors.
And it is a fact that they were not being abused during the course of the killing.

Yes they have lost their youth while incarcerated but their parents both lost their entire lives.
And these two have shown over the course of their incarceration that they have issues with following basic rules.

Selling drugs behind bars can be indicative of how their mindset works.
As well as defrauding innocent victims in an elaborate tax scheme.

Just because a prison guard is singing their praises does not mean they are changed men.
Because it was one or more of these guards that smuggled in cellphones as well as drugs for these brothers inside the prison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They murdered their parents because they are murderers, not because they were abused. Lots of people are abused and it doesn't make them kill their abusers. They were adults. They could have walked away or called the police. They could have written a tell-all. They could have said, "You're dead to me. I will never see or speak to you again." Instead they killed them. Because they are murderers.

I don’t think anyone is arguing they shouldn’t have been convicted for murder. But jail is supposed to be both punitive and rehabilitative. They’ve served 30 years and they appear to be rehabilitated. So why are they still in jail?

Agree

They served their time. They are not a threat to society.

There is Solid corroborating evidence that they were sexually molested by their dad. Who would not be messed up after living through such abuse by the people who supposed to protect you?

They have spouses who love them.

It is both inhumane and a waste of tax payers money to keep them in jail.

What is the “solid” evidence that you are referring to here?
The fact that one person claimed they were sexually abused by their Father??
I wouldn’t call that solid evidence in regards to the letter of the law.

And they paid their debt to society??
Most people who murder more than one person (in CA) are often eligible for the death penalty.
Even if they had gotten parole last week, they were no where near what most people who kill multiple people get as a penalty.

I think keeping them in prison is an efficient use of taxpayer dollars.
Because if they got out, it is very clear that they wouldn’t be able to conform to society’s rules since they cannot even follow basic prison ones.

Evidence supporting claims that the Menendez brothers were sexually molested by their father includes:

1. a 1988 letter from Erik Menendez to his cousin detailing the abuse; and

2. a recent declaration from Roy Rosselló, a former Menudo band member, alleging he was also sexually assaulted by Jose Menendez.

These pieces of evidence were excluded or unknown at their original trials. I agree with their lawyers that they should be considered for a reduced sentence based on the significance of lifetime abuse.

LA District Attorney George Gascón: He wrote letters to California Governor Gavin Newsom supporting clemency for the brothers before he left office.

Fellow prison staff and inmates: During their recent parole hearings, prison employees testified as character witnesses regarding their good behavior and rehabilitation.

Over a dozen family members, including aunts and cousins, have provided emotional statements and letters of support for the brothers.

While I respect your comprehensive response, I cannot in good faith be convinced that these two premeditated two examples that you provided are stable enough to call for the release of two self-confessed murderers.

The letter that was written could have been part of the premeditation (like purchasing the guns used) of their murder plan.
Also the sexual abuse by the former Menudo member is simply an allegation >> there is no mitigating evidence that can prove Jose actually abused this person.

No written messages or even phone messages, etc.

And yes, Jose likely was a huge jerk (even much worse!) to his family, however his two sons knew where the door was and could have rightfully left home.
When they were minors they could have stayed w/one of their relatives that are claiming now that Jose abused his family.

Yet instead they chose to exact mortal revenge, then get paid for it claiming self defense made them do it.
What explains the shopping sprees afterward??

And who really believes that their jail infractions were minor?
Running an elaborate tax scheme with a drug gang does not sound benign to me.
Nor does selling drugs behind bars…..

Plus one

The brothers are justifying their actions with excuses, just like they are justifying killing their parents.
They say they felt that their parents were going to murder them, that they felt forced to shoot them in an act of pure self defense.
Yet it is obvious that they could have left their home as they were old enough to get a job and an apartment.
If they shot their parents because of years of abuse they surely didn’t seem like victims while out spending major dollars on expensive cars and watches, ETC.