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Menendez family launches coalition for justice for Erik and Lyle
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Menendez family launches coalition for justice for Erik and Lyle

The family of Lyle and Erik Menendez and attorney Mark Geragos held a news conference in Los Angeles on Wednesday to introduce a new coalition and website: JusticeForLyleAndErik.org.

Their aunt, Joan Vandermolen, urged the public to be there and sign the petition calling on Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón to grant the brothers a resentencing.

“Their continued detention serves no rehabilitation purpose. It is time to acknowledge the injustice they have suffered and give them the second chance they deserve,” added Anamaria Baralt, cousin of the brothers. “Now here we are, both sides of the family united, a new bond of hope, the hope that a new outcome will be achieved with the re-examination of their case. I hope this 34-year nightmare comes to an end and we are reunited as a family.”

A total of four family members spoke, as well as a letter read by Jose Menendez’s 85-year-old sister, who was unable to attend due to a doctor’s orders.

Monsters: The Story of Lyle and Erik Menendez

Meanwhile, Geragos said it was “virtually unprecedented” for 20 family members from both sides of the family to speak out so publicly. Following the press conference, the group went to the DA’s office to make their demands under Marsy’s Law.

The media relations department of the LA DA’s office issued the following statement to TheWrap on Wednesday: “The scheduled press conference today is being hosted by the Menendez brothers’ attorneys and family. The DA’s office will not attend the press conference or make any announcements. A decision in the Menendez case has not yet been made. Once Prosecutor Gascón makes a decision, the victims’ family members and the public will be notified.”

On October 3, Gascón announced that he would review the brothers’ 1996 murder convictions in the wake of increased attention given to the case following the Netflix series “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.”

Geragos mentioned two key pieces of evidence that were not presented at the first trial: a letter written by Erik before the murders relating to the sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of his father; and a statement from Roy Rosselló, former member of the boy band Menudo, that he was also attacked in Jose’s family home.

The two brothers, now 56 and 53 years old respectively, were jailed after being found guilty of the double murder of their parents Jose and Kitty Menendez in 1989. Both are serving life sentences without the possibility of parole.

On Sunday, Gascón posted on Instagram a screenshot of a handwritten letter from Erik from December 1988 that references the abuse he and Lyle allegedly suffered at the hands of their father.

“I tried to avoid dad. It’s still happening, Andy, but it’s worse for me now,” the letter to Erik and Lyle’s cousin Andy Cano reads. “I never know when it’s going to happen and it drives me crazy. Every night I stay awake thinking he might come in.” As CNN reported, Gascon’s post was deleted on Tuesday.

Also on October 3, Gascón said his office was “exploring the possibility that his lawyers, and not us, have alleged that there was evidence that the outcome of the trial would have been different had it been presented to the jury.” The Family repeated these claims in Wednesday’s press conference.

The family hopes the brothers will be released by Thanksgiving to celebrate their aunt’s 93rd birthday, ABC News reported Wednesday. The Menendez brothers’ hearing is scheduled for November 29th in DTLA, but Prosecutor Gascón could theoretically provide an official update at any time.

Kim Kardashian, Erik and Lyle Mendez

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