KILLINGS, NOW RESULTING IN THIS
DOCUMENT.
A BLESSING FROM THE D.A. FOR
THEIR RELEASE.
>> Reporter: THIS MORNING, A NEW
PATH TOWARDS FREEDOM FOR ERIK
AND LYLE MENENDEZ.
THE TOP PROSECUTOR IN LOS
ANGELES NOW RECOMMENDING THAT A
JUDGE RESENTENCE THE BROTHERS
FOR KILLING THEIR PARENTS MORE
THAN 30 YEARS AGO.
>> THERE WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR
PAROLE IMMEDIATELY.
>> Reporter: IN A 57-PAGE
DOCUMENT FILED OVERNIGHT, THE
D.A. WRITING, IN PART, "THE
DEFENDANTS HAVE DEMONSTRATED
EXCEPTIONAL POST-CONVICTION
CONDUCT, THEY NO LONGER PRESENT
A PUBLIC SAFETY RISK."
>> I JUST WANTED IT TO STOP.
>> Reporter: AFTER LAST MONTH’S
NETFLIX SERIES INCREASED
CELEBRITY ATTENTION AND ONAN ARM
OF ONLINE DEFENDERS HELPED
INTEREST IN THE CASE -- AFTER
SUFFERING ABUSE AT THE HANDS OF
THEIR FATHER, JOSE, AS CHILDREN,
AND THEIR MOTHER, KITTY, DID
NOTHING TO STOP IT.
>> I WANT TO UNDERLINE, THERE
WERE HORRIBLE ACTS.
THERE WAS NO EXCUSE FOR MURDER,
BUT I UNDERSTAND ALSO HOW
SOMETIMES PEOPLE GET DESPERATE.
I THINK THAT OFTEN, FOR CULTURAL
REASONS, WE DON’T BELIEVE
VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.
>> Reporter: THE DRAMATIC TURN
IN THEIR FATE HINGING IN PART ON
PURPORTED NEW EVIDENCE
SUPPORTING THEIR PAST CLAIMS OF
THEIR FATHER’S ALLEGED ABUSE.
SOMETHING RAISED DURING THEIR
FIRST TRIALS.
>> JUST STARTED WITH -- AFTER
SPORTS PRACTICES, HE WOULD
MASSAGE ME.
>> Reporter: BUT AFTER JURORS
DEADLOCKED, THE JUDGE IN THEIR
SECOND TRIAL BARRED WHAT HE
CALLED THE ABUSE EXCUSE.
>> MENENDEZ BROTHERS.
>> Reporter: A RECENT PEACOCK
DOCUMENTARY AND TWO HIGH-PROFILE
RELEASES FROM NETFLIX BRINGING
FRESH SCRUTINY TO THE CASE.
IF THERE HAD NOT BEEN A NETFLIX
DOCUMENTARY, WOULD WE BE HAVING
THIS CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW?
>> THE CONVERSATION WOULD HAVE
COME IN, BUT IT PROBABLY COULD
HAVE COME IN ANOTHER WEEK OR
TWO.
>> Reporter: CRITICS RAISING
QUESTIONS ON THE TIMING OF THIS
DECISION WITH THURSDAY’S
ANNOUNCEMENT COMING IN THE
WANING DAYS OF HIS RE-ELECTION
BID.
>> IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE
ELECTION.
>> Reporter: PROSECUTORS
ORIGINALLY ARGUED THE BROTHERS
KILLED THEIR PARENTS TO GET
THEIR HANDS ON THE FAMILY
FORTUNE, MANY MENENDEZ FAMILY
MEMBERS NOW SUPPORT THEIR
RELEASE, SEVERAL SITTING FRONT
ROW AT THURSDAY’S ANNOUNCEMENT.
>> THIS STUFF GIVES US ALL HELP.
>> Reporter: BUT THEIR UNCLE
MILTON HAS MAINTAINED THEY
SHOULD STAY BEHIND BARS.
>> IT’S JUST REALLY OFFENSIVE,
AND THAT’S NOT HOW THE JUSTICE
SYSTEM SHOULD WORK.
>> IT’S NOT THE D.A.’S DECISION,
UNILATERALLY, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.
>> Reporter: IT’S A LENGTHY
PROCESS, AND IT’S GOING TO BEGIN
NOW THAT THEY HAVE FILED THIS
WITH THE JUDGE.
THE JUDGE IS PROBABLY GOING TO
SET A HEARING WITHIN THE NEXT
MONTH OR SO, AND IF JUDGE AGREES
THAT THEY SHOULD BE RESENTENCED,
IT’S NOT UP TO EVEN THAT.
IT’S GOING TO THE STATE PAROLE
BOARD, AND THEN EVEN THEN, IT
MAY NOT BE OVER, BECAUSE THE
GOVERNOR COULD WEIGH IN AND