The Menendez brothers could be released soon

Brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez are at a crucial juncture in their legal process.

After their sentences were commuted to “50 years to life imprisonment” on May 13, 2025, they officially became eligible for parole after more than three decades in prison.

This change was made possible by California's law for young offenders, given that they were 18 and 21 years old at the time of the crime.

The next step in their case is a hearing before the parole board, scheduled for June 13, 2025, the BBC reports. After the hearing, the board will make a recommendation and the final decision on their release will be made by California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has the authority to approve or deny parole.

During a recent sentencing hearing, the brothers expressed remorse for their actions. Eric described his behavior as “criminal, selfish, cruel and cowardly,” while Lyle admitted he had committed “a terrible act against two people who had the right to life.”

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Despite opposition from the prosecution, which disputes their claims of abuse and expresses doubts about their rehabilitation, Judge Michael Jesic acknowledged their personal growth during their time in prison and granted them parole.

Brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez murdered their parents Jose and Kitty on August 20, 1989, at the family's Beverly Hills mansion. They shot themselves while watching television, then went to a movie and had dinner to create an alibi.

In the following months, they appeared to the public as devastated, while squandering a large portion of the family inheritance.

They remained at large for nearly seven months. The key moment in the discovery of their guilt occurred when Eric confessed the crime to his therapist, Dr. Jerome Ozuiel, who recorded their conversation without his knowledge.

In March 1990, Lyle was arrested and Eric, who was in Israel, returned to the US and surrendered.

The trial was broadcast publicly on television.

The first trial began in 1993 and was broadcast live on television. It became a national sensation, with the defense arguing that the father had physically and emotionally abused the brothers for years and that they had killed them out of fear and desperation. The jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict.

In the 1996 retrial, many elements of the defense, including evidence of abuse, were not allowed. They were found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Last Tuesday, May 13, 2025, Judge Michael Jesic commuted that sentence to a sentence of 50 years to life in prison, which also gave them the right to a parole hearing.

It inspired many series and films.

Many series, films and documentaries have been made about the Menendez brothers' case, but the titles available on Netflix have attracted the most attention. Of particular note is the live-action series "Monsters: The Menendez Brothers."

The series details the relationship within the Menendez family, the abuse the brothers allegedly suffered, the brutal murder of their parents, and the controversial trial that followed.

The lead roles are played by Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch as Erik and Lyle, while the parents are played by Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny.

In parallel, Netflix also released the documentary The Menendez Brothers, which features real audio recordings from prison and the brothers' personal thoughts - further deepening knowledge about one of the most famous cases in American legal history. /Telegraph/