The parole hearings for Erik and Lyle Menendez, held this week, faced unexpected challenges when an audio recording of Erik’s hearing was inadvertently released, throwing Lyle’s Thursday proceedings into chaos.
This week’s hearings, highly publicized and emotionally charged, marked the first opportunity for the Menendez brothers to apply for freedom since their conviction and sentencing to life in prison for the 1989 murders of their parents in Beverly Hills.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation tightly controlled media access and the information shared regarding the hearings. A single reporter from the Times was allowed to observe proceedings remotely from Sacramento with strict rules against unauthorized audio recordings.
The complications began when ABC7, a local television station, published a recording of Erik’s Thursday hearing. The prison officials confirmed that this recording was released by mistake, causing frustration among family members and legal representatives present at the hearings.
The hearing proceedings were halted as anger erupted amongst those present. “This is disgusting,” declared Tiffani Lucero Pastor, a relative of the brothers, expressing outrage at the prison department’s actions and the impact on the family.
Heidi Rummel, the attorney representing both Erik and Lyle, voiced concerns about the integrity of the hearing. She called for a break and even suggested that the process had been compromised due to the unauthorized release of the audio. “We are sitting here asking Mr. Menendez to follow rules, and in the middle of this hearing, we find out CDCR is not following its own rules. It’s outrageous,” Rummel remarked.
Erik, aged 54, ultimately faced a denial of parole after extensive questioning surrounding his history of contraband cellphone use among other prison rule violations. The fate of his older brother Lyle, who is 57, remained undecided at the late hours of Friday evening.
Rummel emphasized the intense emotional strain on the family, who had sought to maintain dignity and privacy amidst the media scrutiny.
The road to this week’s hearings began when former Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón petitioned for a sentence reduction to 50 years for the Menendez brothers, which made them eligible for parole. However, scrutiny returned when new District Attorney Nathan Hochman opposed this petition following his election victory over Gascón. Yet, a judge found no substantial evidence showing that the brothers posed a danger to the community, facilitating their access to the parole board.
Media attention on the Menendez brothers persisted, spurred by allegations of childhood abuse suffered at the hands of their father, leading to a social media campaign advocating for their release.
During Friday’s hearing, the release of Erik’s audio recording fueled a mix of controversy and speculation, prompting commissioner Julie Garland to explain that such recordings are subject to the California Public Records Act. Transcripts typically become public within 30 days post-decision.
Rummel pointed out the unusual nature of the audio release, highlighting that similar requests for audio had previously been denied to her. “It’s highly unusual. It’s another attempt to make this a public spectacle,” Rummel remarked.
Amidst the uproar, attorney Maya Emig, representing a family member of the Menendezs, echoed concerns, arguing for the need for proper notice in such matters.
Rummel further pressed the parole board regarding the release of Lyle’s hearing audio, questioning the fairness of the situation as it appeared to deviate from established practices. She voiced her intent to seal the transcript of the hearing under provisions of Marsy’s Law, which ensures rights and protections for victims of crime.
In response, Garland assured that the release of the Friday hearing audio would be paused until legal objections could be properly raised.
As proceedings continued, several of the brothers’ relatives opted not to testify, reflecting their diminished confidence in the process due to the audio leak. “It’s my impression from the family members that that’s not enough of an assurance,” Rummel expressed.
Despite the turmoil caused by the audio incident, the two-member parole board ultimately ruled against Lyle’s request for release late Friday.
Both brothers have been granted the possibility to apply for parole again in three years, with the opportunity to request an earlier hearing in just one year.
image source from：latimes
