Kim Kardashian Pens Essay Calling for Menendez Brothers to Be Released; D.A. Announces Hearing as New Evidence Emerges
Kim Kardashian is advocating for the release of Erik and Lyle Menendez, who have been behind bars for 35 years for the murder of their parents.
The case has been back in the spotlight thanks to Ryan Murphy‘s new Netflix series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story and Kim actually went to visit the brothers in prison with one of the show’s stars.
Following her visit, Kim penned an essay in which she explains why she believes Lyle and Erik deserve a second chance at life, instead of spending the rest of their lives in prison.
If you’re curious as to why Kim is getting involved, she has actually been a prison reform activist for years. You might remember her role in getting Alice Marie Johnson out of jail back in 2018.
Head inside to read what Kim said in her essay…
“I have spent time with Lyle and Erik; they are not monsters. They are kind, intelligent, and honest men. In prison, they both have exemplary disciplinary records. They have earned multiple college degrees, worked as caregivers for elderly incarcerated individuals in hospice, and been mentors in college programs — committed to giving back to others. When I visited the prison three weeks ago, one of the wardens told me he would feel comfortable having them as neighbors. Twenty-four family members, including their parents’ siblings, have released statements fully supporting Lyle and Erik and have respectfully requested that the justice system free them,” Kim wrote for her NBC News essay.
She continued, “The killings are not excusable. I want to make that clear. Nor is their behavior before, during or after the crime. But we should not deny who they are today in their 50s. The trial and punishment these brothers received were more befitting a serial killer than two individuals who endured years of sexual abuse by the very people they loved and trusted. I don’t believe that spending their entire natural lives incarcerated was the right punishment for this complex case. Had this crime been committed and trialed today, I believe the outcome would have been dramatically different. I also strongly believe that they were denied a fair second trial and that the exclusion of crucial abuse evidence denied Erik and Lyle the opportunity to fully present their case, further undermining the fairness of their conviction. ”
She 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. We owe it to those little boys who lost their childhoods, who never had a chance to be heard, helped or saved.”
The 1988 letter has become new evidence that is leading to a new hearing.
Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón announced on Thursday (October 3) that a hearing has been set for November 29.
“We have been given evidence. We have been given a photocopy of a letter that allegedly was sent by one of the brothers to another family member talking about him being the victim of molestation,” Gascón said. “We’ve also got evidence that was provided by the defense, by his lawyers, that one of the members of the Menudo band alleged that he was molested by the father.”
“None of this information has been confirmed,” he added. “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 is that we have a moral and an ethical obligation to review what is being presented to us and make a determination based on a resentencing side, whether they deserve to be resentenced — even though they were clearly the murderers — because they have been in prison for years and they have paid back their dues to society. If there was evidence that was not presented to the court at that time, and had that evidence been presented, perhaps a jury would have come to a different conclusion.”
The Menendez family has said some negative things about the Netflix show, despite the cast and crew defending the content.