Erik and Lyle Menendez share their story in their own words for upcoming Netflix documentary
Topics: Crime, Documentaries, Film and TV, Netflix, True crime, Menendez Brothers
Ella Scott
Featured Image Credit: Netflix
Topics: Crime, Documentaries, Film and TV, Netflix, True crime, Menendez Brothers
Warning: this article discusses sexual abuse which some readers may find distressing.
Lyle and Erik Menendez are set to feature in a new Netflix documentary where they will open up about the brutal murders of their parents.
In 1996, Lyle and his brother Erik Menendez, commonly referred to as The Menendez Brothers, were convicted of murdering their mother Kitty and father José seven years prior.
Following in the wake of Ryan Murphy’s new true-crime drama series centred on the brothers, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, the pair are set to speak out from prison.
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The forthcoming documentary is titled The Menendez Brothers and has been directed by Argentinian creative Alejandro Hartmann.
You can watch the trailer below:
According to Netflix Tudum, The Menendez Brothers 'may not answer the many questions that still surround the case, but it does offer another perspective — that of the brothers themselves, provided in all-new audio interviews'.
“For the first time in almost 30 years, and in their own words, both brothers revisit the trial that shocked the nation.” it continues.
The Menendez Brothers is set to release on Netflix on October 7, just weeks after Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez premiered on the service (September 16).
Monsters tells the story of entertainment executive José and his wife Kitty, a former teacher, who lives with their two sons Lyle, who was 21, and Erik, 18, in Beverly Hills.
In 1989, the pair were shot at point-blank range 16 times with gauge shotguns.
Following their parent’s murder, the brothers called emergency services, claiming to have found them dead after returning from a night out.
Despite initially evading suspicion, the pair were arrested and went on to admit they had murdered their parents.
They alleged they had faced a lifetime of sexual, emotional and physical abuse at the hands of their parents, leading to lawyers arguing the pair had killed their them in self-defense.
However, the prosecution argued that the boys murdered their parents for financial benefit.
After their final trial, Lyle and Erik were found guilty and the pair were set to carry out their life sentences apart.
The older brother was sent to Mule Creek State Prison before being transferred to his brother’s prison, California’s RJ Donovan Correctional Facility.
Following the release of Monsters, Erik has branded the show’s creator as ‘naive’ while speaking out on his and his brother’s show depictions.
"I believed we had moved beyond the lies and ruinous character portrayals of Lyle, creating a caricature of Lyle rooted in horrible and blatant lies rampant in the show,” he wrote.
“I can only believe they were done so on purpose. It is with a heavy heart that I say, I believe Ryan Murphy cannot be this naive and inaccurate about the facts of our lives so as to do this without bad intent.”
He continued to claim the Netflix portrayal of his and his sibling’s crimes are ‘dishonest’.
“Those awful lies have been disrupted and exposed by countless brave victims over the last two decades who have broken through their personal shame and bravely spoken out.
"So now Murphy shapes his horrible narrative through vile and appalling character portrayals of Lyle and of me and disheartening slander.
"Is the truth not enough? Let the truth stand as truth.”
UNILAD has previously contacted Netflix for comment.
The Menendez Brothers is set to premiere on October 7 on Netflix.