California Governor Gavin Newsom instructs parole board to evaluate safety risk posed by Menendez brothers

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered the state’s parole board to investigate whether Erik and Lyle Menendez, who were convicted of murdering their parents in 1989, pose an unreasonable public safety risk if released from prison. The brothers have been seeking clemency and resentencing for their life sentences without the possibility of parole. Public safety experts and forensic psychologists will conduct a risk assessment investigation to determine the potential threat the brothers may pose if released. The findings will be shared with the Los Angeles County District Attorney and the judge overseeing their resentencing efforts. The Menendez family’s lawyers expressed gratitude for the governor’s actions, acknowledging that this does not guarantee a commutation of the brothers’ sentences. The Menendez brothers were arrested in 1990 after their parents were shot in their Beverly Hills home. The defense claimed the killings were in self-defense due to years of sexual abuse by their father, while prosecutors argued the motive was financial and highlighted the brutal nature of the murders. Former Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón has supported clemency and resentencing for the brothers, with a hearing scheduled for next month on their resentencing efforts. Newsom emphasized that the clemency review process aims at ensuring transparency and thoroughness before making any decisions.

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