At the age of 21 and 18, Lyle and Erik Menendez shot and killed their parents, Jose and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez. The evening of August 20th 1989, the two brothers stormed the house. They entered the family room, shotguns in hand and fired 16 shots, 10 to their mother and 6 to their father. They left the house, went to the local movie theater attempting to buy an alibi. They came home later that evening and faked a 911 call, pleading “Someone killed my parents,”.
The brothers were the last possible suspects when it first happened, it was only after they started to quickly spend their inheritance money that they were possible suspects. They weren’t taken on that seriously until Erik had gone to his therapist, Dr. Oziel confessed that his brother and he had killed their parents. Erik couldn’t handle the guilt. This was 6 months after the crime had happened. Dr. Oziel had taped the session, unethically, getting the confession on tape. Oziel told his mistress, Julalon Smyth, about the confession. This is a key detail as Julalon Smyth reported this to the police, which is what led to the brothers being arrested.
Why? Everybody who didn’t truly know this story would think that the boys killed their parents purely because they wanted their money, but it was much more concerning than that. Jose Menendez, the father of Lyle and Erik Menendez, abused his boys physically, sexually, and emotionally. He had sexually abused Lyle as a young boy, and then later did the same to Erik, up until he died. The whole time their mother knew what was happening and decided to stay silent. The boys killed their parents out of self defense, but still, they were both found guilty and charged to life in prison without chance of parole on July 2nd, 1996.
Personally, I can see both sides of this debate. I can see why some would say the boys should still be punished as they did still commit murder that was premeditated. On the other hand, I can see that they did this out of self defense, and they thought that they would have been killed by their parents if they had not acted first.
What do you think about this case?
Do you think the brothers should have a chance at parole?
Do you think that the Menendez brothers would have been killed by their parents if they hadn’t acted first?
Replies
What do you think about the case? I agree with what you said about how you can see the case from both sides. I can see why they would have a reason to kill their parents and how they were sexually, emotionally, and physically abused. But I can also see why they have life in prison because they could have handled the situation in a different way. They could have told their therapist before they killed their parents or they could have talked to the police.
I can see how you can agree with both sides as both have good reasoning behind them. Do you think their parents would have killed them if they hadn't killed them first? If yes, do you really think talking to the police or therapist would have helped?
I think that they should go on parole and see how it goes from there. I think that they would have gone through a whole lot of pain, but not killed.
Yes, I believe they should have recieved the option for parole in the first place. There is going to be another meeting in court to decided if that should be overuled, letting them have a chance for parole.
I think that they shouldn't get parole easily becuase they still murdered 2 people and should be in jail. On the other hand I think that becuause they killed them with reason that they should get a chance for parole.
I don't agree with your thoughts because they did the only thing that they thought of to get it to stop even though they killed their dad I think that they should get another chance because they didn't deserve that that is why I think they should get parole.
I think the case can go both ways. I feel like the kids should be punished since they did kill there parents. I could also see why they did it if they were using self defense. I don't think there parents would have killed them if they didn't kill them. I feel like there parents might of done bad things but not to kill there children.
Why do you think their parents wouldn't have killed them? I can see how you think it would be insane to kill your own children, but it's also insane to abuse them for their whole lives. What do you think their lives would look like if they never killed their parents?
I agree with you, I think that they should be punished but they were just trying to protect themselves. I also agree that the parents would have killed them by now if they were plannin to get rid of both of them.
I agree with you, they should be punished and that they were acting in self defense. Although the did try to cover it up they were getting abused and couldn't take it anymore.
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