A parole board in California is
considering the cases of the Menendez
brothers in what's being seen as their
most significant bid for freedom since
being convicted almost 30 years ago for
the murders of their parents. The case
has gained international interest since
the brother's story was made into a TV
drama. Their lawyers argued the killings
followed years of abuse, a claim that
continues to divide opinion and fuel
public fascination. Peter Bose is in Los
Angeles for us now. And Peter, a much
anticipated moment in this long-running
case.
>> Yes, this is one of the most notorious
criminal cases in recent Los Angeles
history. In fact, as of yesterday, it is
36 years since the brother's parents
were shot and killed at close range.
Now, the two young men at that time said
they did it because they feared for
their own lives after years of sexual
abuse by their father. indeed abuse and
mental abuse by both parents.
Prosecutors during their original trial
said they did it for money. This is a
wealthy family. They said they did it to
get hold of that money uh which they
went on to spend to some extent in in
the months after the killings. Now the
parole board hearings are happening
today initially for Eric Mendez.
Tomorrow it will be Lyall Menendez
because well a few weeks ago a judge
here in Los Angeles reduced their
sentences from life without the
possibility of parole to 50 years to
life and because of a recently passed
law in California and because they were
under 26 at the time of the crimes that
meant they were eligible for parole. And
what the parole board is doing right now
is trying to assess whether they no
longer pose a risk to the community
which would justify their release. We're
still waiting. It's been happening, at
least as far as Eric's hearing is
concerned, for several hours. They will
return tomorrow to consider Ly's case.