The Menendez Brothers

[DanaK]

Quote

Netflix documentary that premieres October 7 2024

In 1996, Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted for the murders of their parents in what became one of the most famous criminal cases of the late 20th century. For the first time in 30 years, and in their own words, both brothers revisit the trial that shocked the nation. Through extensive audio interviews with Lyle and Erik, lawyers involved in the trial, journalists who covered it, jurors, family, and other informed observers, acclaimed Argentinian director Alejandro Hartmann offers new insight and a fresh perspective on a case that people only think they know.

 

[DanaK]

Trailer

 

[Artsda]

I watched the first episode so far and the actors playing the brothers are great. 

 

[DanaK]

1 hour ago, Artsda said:

I watched the first episode so far and the actors playing the brothers are great. 

 

This is a documentary, which doesn’t start until Oct 7, not the drama series. I think you want the “Monster Series” over in drama

[Bastet]

This did a great job of showing that if the first trial happened now, they would have received the voluntary manslaughter convictions they deserved.  Even back then, the women on the jury understood this was a textbook case of imperfect self defense (which means your belief that you were in immediate danger was 100% genuine, but it wasn't correct), that a lifetime of abuse warps the victim's perception of reality, it was the male jurors who immediately rejected the notion of boys being abused by their fathers. 

(If the second trial happened now, they'd still be doing life in prison, because that damn trial was rigged for a murder conviction from the beginning.  Also, I like that the one juror from the original trial stated that very thing; she spent a month deliberating, felt bad that they couldn't reach a verdict, and obviously paid attention to the second trial and hates that they got a raw deal.)

The prosecutor from the first trial still insisting the abuse was fabricated is yet another example of why I hate DAs.  All she'd have to say is okay, I had it wrong on the motive, but I still say this didn't meet the legal standard of imperfect self defense so they should have been convicted of murder and I'd respect that.  I wouldn't agree with it, but I'd respect it.  And then posturing to the TikTokers that her house is full of guns.  Fuck off.

The "there was no abuse, this was all about the money" theory of the crime makes no sense.  If there isn't something horrible going on behind closed doors, they're living the good life in Beverly Hills with rich parents who finance their luxurious lifestyle, then why kill them to get all the money now, and risk getting caught and spending life in prison rather than living it up on Mom & Dad's fortune?  By this theory, they're living a great life, so why wouldn't they just keep doing so, knowing that when their parents' time comes naturally, they'll split the estate.

It was nice to see how much the brothers respect their lawyers; those two women did a great job for them in the first trial (and didn't stand a chance in the second). 

[kathe5133]

They killed their parents.  They got guns, loaded those guns, made a plan, and killed their parents.  Was the father abusing them?  I don't know.  Maybe.  Did the mother know?  Maybe.  But, they killed their parents.  Actions have consequences.  They were old enough to know that killing their parents was wrong.  They were old enough to know that they could have gone to law enforcement, or confided in their therapists, or found any other solution to escape.  Yet, they got guns, loaded those guns, made a plan, and killed their parents.  They are now where they need to be and I can imagine it's very unpleasant to know you'll be in jail the rest of your life, but they got guns, loaded those guns, made a plan, and killed their parents.  They are now where they need to be.  

[Bastet]

2 hours ago, kathe5133 said:

Actions have consequences. 

Yes, and the consequence should have been a conviction for voluntary manslaughter, resulting in about 15 years in prison, not first degree murder and a life sentence (and certainly not death, like Garceti was going for).  The law has multiple homicide crimes, with different elements to be proven and different sentencing guidelines for each, because intent matters every bit as much as action.

2 hours ago, kathe5133 said:

They were old enough to know that they could have gone to law enforcement, or confided in their therapists, or found any other solution to escape. 

Based on their lifetime experience of abuse, and the near-total lack of public discussion of childhood sexual abuse by parents, where would they have come by this confidence in an ability to get help?  Victims are groomed to think they won't be believed if they tell (which their own mom proved), that they'll be harmed.  They also have the incredible complication in a parental situation like this of simultaneously loving their abuser, and not wanting to ruin them by telling the family secret.

And Erik thought he had an escape, going to Stanford, and his dad informed him, no, you're going to UCLA and living here. 

The parents did not deserve to be killed for their reprehensible actions; if every single word out of Lyle and Erik's mouth is true, that's still not a capital crime and vigilante justice is never the way to begin with.  And the brothers were arrogant jerks, especially Lyle who was way too much like his father.  But the brothers deserved to be convicted of the crime they actually committed.  If the second trial had included the same evidence as the first, it would have either been another hung jury or a voluntary manslaughter conviction.  I'd bet big money on it being the former, and at that point the DA probably would have accepted they can try this thing in perpetuity and never get a jury to unanimously go for first degree (just as the defenses would never get a jury to acquit), so let's just plead it out at manslaughter and transfer these guys off to state prison.

Edited October 8 by Bastet

[overtherainbow]

They've already served 34 years in prison. That's an incredibly long time and most of that time they weren't even able to see each other. They've now spent more time locked up than free. In the time they've been in prison, OJ was acquitted, arrested again for the Vegas robbery, served his time, got out and amassed a massive social media following, and passed away.

Hell, they both got married despite the life sentences. When are we as a society going to shift our "justice" system to one that focuses on rehabilitation rather than retribution and life sentences are reserved for people who actually pose a continued risk to the public. I hope they're able to get a retrial and are sentenced to time served or parole and released.