The Menéndez Brothers: The Controversial Trial of the Murderous Siblings

This is the story of the Menéndez Brothers, the murderers who starred in one of the most controversial trials of the 1990s.

March 21, 1996. The televisions in most American homes awaited the resolution of what had become the most watched show in recent weeks: the Lyle and Erik Menendez trialtwo brothers under 30 years of age accused of having murdered his parents in cold blood.

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Almost seven years had passed since the crime and both had already delivered to justice in separate trials. The story was about to change. When the two brothers received the verdict, the nation listened in silence. Lyle and Erik were found guilty and sentenced to spend the rest of their days in prison.. The show was over, but the doubts about the murder and the reasons behind such a terrible crime continued. This is his story.

Who are the Menéndez brothers?

Lyle –born in January 1968– and Erik Menéndez –born in November 1970– were two siblings who apparently had no major problems in life.

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His father, a cuban immigrant who was developing professionally in the industry entertainmenthad married his mother after meet her at Southeastern Illinois University in the 1960s. Since then they have done everything possible to look like an ideal family. When his children arrived, this interest became more noticeable in his home in Beverly Hills and in the education of the offspring, committed to the best schools.

For this reason, many were surprised when shots were heard at the Menéndez house on the afternoon of August 20, 1989. According to police reports, authorities went to the property of Jose and Kitty Menendez just to meet the adults brutally murdered. Lyle and Erik looked at the scene in surprise. They claimed to have gone to see ‘Batman’ at the movies and to eat at a festival in Santa Monica before returning home and find their parents brutally murdered. Over time it would become known that the Menéndez brothers were hiding the truth of their actions that evening.

killer brothers

In the months that followed the tragic murder of the Menendezes, as the police tried to find those responsible, Lyle and Erik began spending their late parents’ fortune. They bought restaurants, cars and luxury watches; they went on vacations, moved houses, and even attended basketball games. One of the most expensive trading cards ever captured the brothers enjoying a New York Knicks game.

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The detectives began like thisbe suspicious of the brothers when they ran into a wall in all the lines of investigation they followed. had murdered his parents in order to have a large amount of money at his disposal? Despite attempts to establish a clear link, authorities had nothing to link the youths to the crime. They even convinced one of Erik’s friends to record a conversation that could incriminate him. That effort was also unsuccessful.

It seemed that the homicide would remain unpunished. It was then that the police received a call. Judalon Smyth knew that Lyle and Erik Menendez had killed his parents.. Erik himself confessed it to Jerome Oziel, his psychologist and Smyth’s then partner. By breaking off their relationship – and without needing to respect a doctor-patient privilege – Judalon did what he saw fit. On March 8, 1990, Lyle Menendez was arrested; three days later, the police were able to root his brother.

What happened to the Menendez brothers?

The Menéndez brothers first took the stand in 1993. The state of California accused them of having murdered his parents to gain access to his fortune. Lyle and Erik made a terrible argument: they had killed those who gave them their lives in retaliation for an abusive childhood.

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As they said in court, José Menéndez had raped his two children when they were children. Kitty knew about this, she allowed it and even protected her husband when he was questioned by one of her relatives – who testified shortly after at the trial – about the alleged abuse of Lyle. When the brothers confronted their parents about the abuse, they received a threat. In his court testimony, Erik said that both he and Lyle feared for their lives, so they decided to kill their parents.. That night, they both entered their parents’ study and shot them with shotguns: José received 6 impacts; Kitty received 10.

The Menéndez brothers convinced the jury on that occasion and the trial was declared a mistrial.. Years later, Justice judged them again, now as two thirty-year-olds driven by ambition. That was how they had always been, in the eyes of the law. In 1996, Lyle and Erik Menéndez were found guilty and sentenced to end their days in prisonwhere they both married fans of the show that became their trial.

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