Because freedom was denied to Erik Mendez after 35 years in the cell: the brother, the TV series and everything we know

Erik Mendez remains in prison pending the decision on his brother Lyle’s fate. In Los Angeles, a surveillance court denied the freedom to the minor of the two brothers sentenced for the murder of the parents, committed in August 1989 in the family villa of Beverly Hills. According to the judges, the man would be “still a risk for society” in particular for his conduct in prison.

The 54 -year -old tried to demonstrate that he has changed by talking about sobriety faith and help to older prisoners. In his favor, ten family members spoke. The aunt Teresita Mendez-Baralt, cancer patient, said he wanted to welcome him to the house after forgiving him. The infringements committed: the use of the mobile phone, the attempts of tax fraud, the accusations of drug trafficking and relations with gangs.

The story of Lyle and Erik Mendez, accused and sentenced for the murder of their parents, José and Kitty, which took place on August 20, 1989 In the family villa in Beverly Hills, he is one of the most discussed and controversial in the American news. Their case inspired the Netflix Monsters series: The Lyle and Erik Mendez Story. In the processes, the brothers did not deny having killed the parents, but they claimed that they should not have been sentenced because they had Acta for legitimate defense, after having undergone physical and sexual abuses by the father. At the time, public opinion was split Among those who saw two young people animated by greed, ready for everything to get their hands on the inheritance, and those who feel the despair of two abused children.

The court accepted the version of the prosecutors, according to which the brothers aimed at the millionaire legacy of the father, an important member of the record industry. Sentenced in 1996 to life imprisonment without the possibility of exit. Erik Mendez has been in prison since January 1990. On videoconference from the San Diego prison he explained: “August 21 is the day on which my family discovered that my parents had died, the beginning of their trauma path”.

The case has returned to the limelight also thanks to the Netflix Monsters series: The Lyle and Erik Mendez Story. Last May a judge of Los Angeles reduced their sentence to 50 years because they were less than 26 years old at the time of crime. Since then they have become eligible for supervised freedom. However, the opposite opinion of the Board of Words Hearings blocks the way to release.

Source: Vanity Fair

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