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
I agree with your stance becuase the case can really go both ways but they still murdered their parents and there wasn't an immediate threat when they killed them and they planned it so I don't really think that they should get parole easily.
I think that this is a hard case because I can see both sides. I think that they should still be punished because they commited a very important crime but I think that they should not get the same sentence that a normal murderer would get because part of it was because of self defense.
I agree with you that this case is complicated. They did commit murder so I see why they should still be punished but also under their surcomstances in a way it was self defense. I agree that they shouldnt have gotten such a long sentence and they should have had some more empathy.
I think it wasn't right to kill your parents but if it was because of self defense I think they had a reason to do what they did. Also, their parents also did not have a normal life, mostly their father so that explains why he's so messed up. In the end they shpi;d be set free and it was an act of self defense.
I agree with you that it isn't right to kill your parents but if they did it for self defense. I don't fully agree that they should be free though, after all they did take another human's life.
I think they should be in jail also I think that there were actions of self-defence. They were being sexually abused by their father and when they told their mother about it, they were also they were bring over dramatic. Ido believe that they should be in jail without parole.
I agree with this because yes they should be in jail for what they have done, but in their defense it could of been self-defence. By being sexually and abused by their parnets. But killing there parnets thats taking to far, they could of put them in jail. But i could see why they did it from anger
I think that the brothers should get another chance based on the facts of the case. What they did was a way out of self-defense and now they have had plenty enough time in prison. What their parents did they never got to grow up normally and were being manipulated their whole life that their father could've possibly killed them at any point.
I agree that the brothers should have another chance as they have served a long time in jail, and there reasoning was self defense. I think a big part in their actions, like you said, where that they were never raised normally.
I think they should be in jail but I also think that there actions were an act of self defense. They were being sexually abused by their father and when they told their mother about it, they were told they were being over dramatic. I do also believe that they should stay in jail and not have the opition of parole.
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