"A judge has rejected Erik and Lyle Menendez's petition for a new trial, ruling that additional evidence that they suffered sexual abuse at their father's hands would not have changed the outcome of the trial that has put them in prison for more than 35 years for gunning down their parents. The ruling, handed down by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge William C. Ryan on Monday, is the latest blow to the brothers' bid for release."
"A habeas corpus petition filed on behalf of the brothers in 2023 argued they should have been able to present additional evidence at trial that their father, Jose Menendez, was sexually abusive. The new evidence included a 1988 letter that Erik Menendez sent to his cousin, Andy Cano, saying he was abused into his late teens. There were also allegations made by Roy Rosselló, a former member of the boy band Menudo, who claimed Jose Menendez raped him."
"The brothers have long argued they were in fear for their lives that their father would keep abusing them, and that their parents would kill them to cover up the nightmarish conditions in their Beverly Hills home. Prosecutors contended the brothers killed their parents with shotguns in 1989 to get access to their massive inheritance, and have repeatedly highlighted Erik and Lyle's wild spending spree in the months that followed their parents' deaths."
A judge denied Erik and Lyle Menendez's 2023 habeas corpus petition seeking a new trial, finding additional evidence of sexual abuse by their father would not have altered the verdict. The ruling noted a 1988 letter from Erik and allegations by Roy Rosselló claiming Jose Menendez raped him, but concluded those items did not add materially to abuse claims the jury already considered. The brothers have maintained they feared continued abuse and that their parents might kill them to hide the conditions in their Beverly Hills home. Prosecutors argued the brothers killed their parents in 1989 to obtain their inheritance and cited their post-death spending. Both brothers were also recently denied parole.
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