### Menendez Brothers Could Be Resentenced, Opening Path to Possible Parole

LOS ANGELES (AP) - After serving 34 years in prison for the 1989 murders of their parents in Beverly Hills, Erik and Lyle Menendez might soon be given a chance at freedom. Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced on Thursday that his office will recommend the brothers be resentenced to 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible for parole due to their ages at the time of the crimes.

Gascón, speaking at a news conference, explained his decision: "I came to a place where I believe, under the law, resentencing is appropriate." While the request will be formally made in court on Friday, Gascón noted that some members of his office oppose this decision and might present their views as the case progresses.

The Menendez brothers were originally sentenced in 1996 to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Lyle, then 21, and Erik, 18, admitted to shooting their father, entertainment executive Jose Menendez, and their mother, Kitty Menendez. They claimed they acted out of fear that their parents would kill them to prevent the revelation of years of sexual abuse by their father.

In the years since their conviction, members of their extended family have advocated for their release, arguing that a modern understanding of sexual abuse might have led to a different outcome in their trials. Kitty Menendez's sister, Joan Andersen VanderMolen, has been a vocal supporter of the brothers and attended Thursday's news conference along with attorney Mark Geragos, who represents the Menendez brothers.

The brothers' case gained renewed attention recently due to the Netflix series "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story." Furthermore, a letter by Erik Menendez and new allegations by Roy Rossello, a former member of Menudo, who claims he was also sexually abused by Jose Menendez, have added weight to their claims of abuse.

Despite the support for resentencing, not all family members agree. Attorneys for Milton Andersen, Kitty Menendez’s 90-year-old brother, submitted a brief urging the court to uphold the brothers' original sentences. "The evidence remains overwhelmingly clear: the jury's verdict was just, and the punishment fits the heinous crime," they stated.

Amidst his reelection campaign, Gascón defended his stance on progressive reform policies, including recommending resentencing for other inmates, and underscored that the Menendez brothers have worked towards rehabilitation during their imprisonment.

Rossello’s accounts and other testimonies highlighting the abuse faced by the Menendez brothers have been included in a petition filed by their attorney, seeking a reexamination of their case.