Kim Kardashian calls for Lyle and Erik Menendez to be freed from prison as their murder case comes under review
Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual abuse which some readers may find distressing.
Kim Kardashian has called for Lyle and Erik Menendez, the subjects of Netflix's new Monsters series, to be released from prison.
Brothers Lyle and Erik were both sentenced to life in prison without parole in 1996 following the 1989 murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez.
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Lyle and Erik were 21 and 18 respectively at the time of the killings, and at their first trial claimed they had been subject to years of abuse.
The trial ended in a hung jury, but the abuse claims were largely withheld at the second trial, after which Lyle and Erik were found guilty.
Their story forms the basis of Ryan Murphy's Netflix series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, which quickly found success on the platform.
Following the release of the series, LA County district attorney George Gascon announced there was 'a moral and an ethical obligation' for authorities to review evidence of alleged sexual abuse by their father which was submitted by Lyle and Erik last year.
Speaking at a news conference yesterday (October 3), Gascon said: "None of this information has been confirmed.
"We are not, at this point, ready to say that we either believe or do not believe that information.
"But we're here to tell you that we have a moral and an ethical obligation to review what is being presented to us."
As the case comes under review, the brothers have received support from Kardashian, who has long fought for criminal justice reform.
The businesswoman and reality TV star published an op-ed for NBC News in which she called for the brothers to be released, saying: "Physiologically and psychologically, time changes us, and I doubt anyone would claim to be the same person they were at 18. I know I’m not!"
In the article, Kardashian claimed the brothers' story had become 'entertainment for the nation' thanks to their televised trial, and that they were turned into 'monsters and sensationalized eye candy'.
As a result, she argued they had 'no chance of a fair trial'. Gascon said on Thursday that news of the review did not mean 'there was anything wrong with the original trial'.
Kardashian revealed that she has spent time with both Lyle and Erik and that they are 'not monsters', but have 'exemplary disciplinary records' in prison.
She made clear the killing of their parents was not 'excusable', but added: "We should not deny who they are today in their 50s."
The op-ed concluded: "With their case back in the spotlight — and considering the revelation of a 1988 letter from Erik to his cousin describing the abuse — my hope is that Erik and Lyle Menendez’s life sentences are reconsidered."
In the news conference, Gascon said a review could potentially lead to resentencing or a new trial.
A hearing on the case is set to take place on November 26.
If you've been affected by any of the issues in this article, you can contact The National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800.656.HOPE (4673), available 24/7. Or you can chat online via online.rainn.org
Topics: Kim Kardashian, Netflix, True crime, Film and TV
Emily Brown