Erik and Lyle Menéndez won't be able to appear before the court this month as planned. Their resentencing hearing, scheduled for March 20 and 21, was postponed due to a controversial decision by California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The governor intervened directly in the case by ordering a "risk assessment investigation" on the brothers, questioning whether they are ready to reintegrate into society. This measure nullified any possible progress in court, rendering the resentencing hearing meaningless.
Lyle y Erik Menéndez en el juicio.
Newsom prevented the judicial process from following its natural course. Instead of a judge determining the sentence and transferring the case to the Parole Board, the governor stepped in and forced an investigation that slows down the procedure.
A decision that changes the course of the case
Lyle Menéndez reacted to the news from prison in San Diego, where he posted a message on Facebook asking his followers for patience and faith. Meanwhile, Newsom justified his decision by assuring that experts will evaluate "the causes that led the brothers to commit their crime" and whether they have done the necessary work to avoid reoffending.
Erik Menéndez y Lyle Menendez.
The sudden change in the state's strategy came shortly after the Menéndez brothers appeared on TMZ's podcast "2 Angry Men," where they talked about their life in prison. Newsom announced that the Parole Board will receive the evaluation results in the coming months, which could lead to a parole hearing.
Los posteos de Lyle Menéndez en Facebook.
With this action, Newsom not only unnecessarily prolongs the judicial process but also keeps the Menéndez brothers in a legal limbo.Although he has the power to grant clemency, his intervention seems like a strategy to avoid making a clear decision about their future.
