Stephen A's Take: Menendez Brothers feared their Dad, but murdered Mom too, why?

Published Nov 26, 2024, 11:00 AM

Stephen A. Smith is a New York Times Bestselling Author, Executive Producer, host of ESPN's First Take, and co-host of NBA Countdown.

The status hearing in the high-profile case of brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez for the 1989 murders of their parents.  Stephen A. shares his thoughts on the status hearing in the high-profile case of brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez for the 1989 murders of their parents. 

I've waited a while to talk about this next subject because, to be quite honest with you, it's kind of boggled my mind. I have to admit in Los Angeles where I'm at this particular moment in time. The Menendez brothers are set to appear in court today for a status hearing to consider new evidence in the trial that sent them to prison for the rest of their lives without parole. The brothers were convicted of double murder for killing their parents with a shotgun back in nineteen eighty nine in Beverly Hills. Both Lyle and Eric Menendez admitted to the murders, but claimed they were committed in self defense for a lifetime of abuse, including sexual abuse by their father. As for the new evidence, their attorneys want to present a letter Eric wrote to his cousin detailing his father's alleged abuse. They also want to present allegations from a former member of the boy band Menudo, who says he was allegedly raped by the Menandez Boy's father. As well, Ladies and gentlemen, I'm kind of old school with things like this, and I for nine, you take a life, you sacrifice your own if it's murder self defense is a different matter altogether, So I understand the trepidation in some people's eyes. You have people who say, you know, they've served nearly thirty five years in jail already and because of that they have paid their debt to society. Well, who told you that there are people who are in jail for the rest of their lives because they've killed someone. In this case, a couple of people were killed, and where I try to be somewhat sympathetic in terms of understanding because if their father indeed was molesting them and sexually abusing them, I'm not going to be irresponsible by saying that he deserved what he got, because I'm not going to condone murder, but i will say I'm not shedding any tears for him. Let the Lord deal with his soul. What I will say, however, is that how do you explain killing the mother. I've heard nobody ask that question. Was the mother sexually abusing you? Maybe you should have felt she should have done more, assuming that you're telling the truth, which I don't know, but maybe you're saying she should have done more. But the point is, was the mom sexually abusing you? Because if the mom wasn't sexually abusing you, which kill her. For now, ladies and gentlemen, I had my researcher looked something up for me. I don't want to read you the details of the murder for a second. In nineteen eighty nine, Eric and Lao Menandez bought a pair of shotguns with cash, walked into their home, and shot their parents while the parents were watching a movie in the family living room. Prosecutors said Jose Menendez was struck five times, including in the back of the head, and Kiddy Menendez. The mom crawled on the floor wounded before the brothers reloaded and fired a final fatal blast. During their trials, prosecutors repeatedly showed horrific image of shattered features of Kitty Menendez shattered features of Kitty Menendez while her husband was on a blood soaked sofa after being blasted at close range.

Prosecutors would argue.

The slings were driven by greed and the brothers desire to get their parents multi million dollar estate. But during the trials, Eric and la La Mendez Menendez detailed what they said were years of violent sexual abuse at the hands of their father, which brings me back to my point, what they got to do with the mother.

See, if you had just done that to your dad.

And you served nearly thirty five years in prison, perhaps the argument could be made favorably.

Towards you getting now now because he directly abused you to be rhetorical. I ask again, what does that have to do with the mom. I don't get it, y'all.

I'm not losing sleep over whatever weighted decision sways or whatever.

I'm just saying, I'm not seeing that.

You reloaded and shot mom and then you go down the list here key vents in the timeline of the Menendez brothers. Jose Menendez, an executive at RCA Records in Los Angeles, and his wife Kitty Menendez, was shot and killed in near Beverly Hills mansion that was in August of nineteen eighty nine. In March of nineteen ninety, La Menandez, then twenty one, is arrested. Eighteen year old Eric Menandas turns himself in a few days later. The accused the first degree murder. July of nineteen ninety three, more than three years later, and his brother's go on trial, each with a separate jury. Prosecutors argue that they killed their parents for financial gain. The brother's attorneys don't dispute the pay of killed their parents, but argue that they acted out of self defense after years of emotional and sexual abuse.

By their father, again not the mother.

In January of nineteen ninety four, both juries deadlocked. October nineteen ninety five, more than a year and a half later, the brother's retrial begins, this time with a single jury. Much of the defense evidence about alleged sexual abuse is excluded. During the second trial March of nineteen ninety six. Just about six months later, jurors convict both brothers of first degree murder. July of nineteen ninety six, the brothers are sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. May of two thy and twenty three fast Forward, attorneys for the Menenda's brothers asked the court to reconsider the conviction and sentenced in light of new evidence from a former member of the boy Baman Nudo, who said he was raped by Jose Menendez when he was fourteen. In addition, they submit a letter that Eric wrote about his father's abuse prior to the killings. September. This past September, Netflix releases the crime drama Monsters The Lala and Eric Menendez Story, a nine episode series about the killings. October twenty twenty four, the DA says his office is reviewing new evidence in a case. October sixteenth, two weeks later, multiple generations of family members from the Menande's brothers hold a news conference pleading for their release from prison. The relatives say the jurors who sentenced them the life without parole in nineteen ninety six were part of a society that was not ready to hear that boys could be raped.

And then October twenty fifth.

Day petitions the court to resentence the brothers, which could lead to their release again. Their book currently serving life in prison without parole in California.

I go back again, mother, the father, the father, rap, rap, rape, the father, the father, the father, What about the mother?

See that's where they stay in prison If it were me.

The father is one case. How do you explain the mother, especially when.

You recharge you rearmed and shot her while she crawled on the ground. How do you explain the mother