The 1989 case of the Menendez brothers has sparked extreme controversy over the fact that they murdered their abusive parents.
Lyle and Erik Menendez alleged that they were sexually abused and raped by their father, Jose Menendez, and verbally and physically abused by their mother, Kitty Menendez. Their claim is that as a result of this and other traumatic factors, they gunned down their parents. After going to trial, they were sentenced to life in prison without parole.
This case was extremely popular back in the late 80’s and 90’s. It was all over the news and sparked much controversy as people believed they didn’t deserve jail and the murder of their parents was rightfully deserved.
Fast forward 35 years, this has gotten the public’s attention again with the new series “Monsters,” social media’s influence, and the “The Menendez Brothers” documentary. The Co-Editors in Chief of The Northern Star have taken a stance on what they believe should have happened.
Maya’s take:
What the Menendez brothers did was wrong and was not self-defense. By claiming this, I am not undermining what they have gone through in the slightest.
Lyle Menendez claims to have been sexually assaulted by his father from the early age of 8-years-old. Erik Menendez claims that he was then sexually assaulted up until he was 18-years-old. They say they were verbally, physically, and sexually abused by both of their parents and that their mother knew what was going on and did nothing to help. So, of course, if proven true, this is absolutely horrifying. No one should have to go through this.
However, this is not an excuse for murder. No one should resort to murder even in the worst possible cases. There were several other options the brothers could have turned to before.
They could have gone to the police and reported this abuse. It was very hard for the Menendez brothers to admit that they had been assaulted even to their own lawyer, which explains why they hadn’t revealed what was going on before. Even so, to me it’s the more logical solution than killing. By going to the police about what they were going through, there would have been an investigation, their parents would have been taken into custody, more people could have come forward about Jose Menendez’s abuse, and while this process would be long, it would have saved them 34 years of jail.
The boys were not in the right mindset and should have gotten help first and foremost. After what they had been through, they could have gone through rehabilitation. They did originally go to therapy with Dr. O’ziel, but he was not an ethical therapist as he reported what the boys said back to their parents. Still, I think being honest with what was going on and seeking the help they needed could have granted them the right treatment. They were holding in decades worth of terrible trauma and had no one to talk to.
Murder is not acceptable on any account. It was clear that the boys were in desperate need of help and should have spoken up about it before killing their parents. Unfortunately, they were given life in prison instead which I don’t think they deserve at all. They deserve a life and to live happily without the trauma of their parents.
Lola’s take:
The situation was self defense.
Killing anyone is morally wrong. Taking someone’s life in any context is a wrong thing to do and the murder should be punished. But…….. imagine you and your father have an abusive relationship, not only physical abuse but sexual abuse. Again, this is your father, so you live with this man every day, are supposed to look up to this man, and he controls/funds your livelihood. This type of environment is one where no one can thrive.
Since these boys, Erik and Lyle, grew up wealthy and financially comfortable, their parents paid for their lifestyle. Both Erik and Lyle rebelled as they grew up. Lyle, while he was at Princeton University, paid for by his parents, got suspended for cheating. During this period when Lyle was home, the brothers robbed houses and were turned in by one of their friends.
After getting caught Erik was mandated by the court for compulsory counseling from Dr. Jerome Oziel. This court-mandated therapist made Erik sign a waiver, allowing the doctor to report his therapy findings back to the boy’s parents. This is essential in this case because if these boys were molested as children, and as they grew up they could never process or work through this trauma and resentment towards their parents because the therapist would go and tell them, which could end up in more abuse.
This doctor is not a professional whatsoever and didn’t influence Erik to progress in his therapy, only stalled him because he never got to explore his trauma, and understand why he felt the need to rob while already being rich. These boys weren’t treated for their mental illness which drove them to need to think that they needed to kill their parents. They endured this abuse for a prolonged period of time so thought that this was the only solution to stop the abuse indefinitely.
These trauma victims’ trial was heavily sensationalized by the media, which only further inhibited their healing process. Now, 35 years later the men are grown up and believe they have been rehabilitated in prison.
According to The New York Times, “The Los Angeles County district attorney said on Thursday that he would request the re-sentencing of Lyle and Erik Menendez, who killed their parents in 1989, a step that could lead to their release from prison.”
The District Attorney, George Gascon, believes the brothers have “paid their debt to society.”
Although the District Attorney recommended this for the brothers, the decision is ultimately up to the judge. If he decides to resentence the brothers, they would be eligible for parole because they were under 26 when they were sentenced, and had already served 25 years. After that a parole board would have to okay the release of the brothers, and if they say yes, the case would go up to Gov. Gavin Newson who will have the final decision of whether or not they will be released.
