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The Brothers Grim
Lyle and Erik Menendez, sons of a successful Cuban American business executive, were convicted of first-degree murder on March 20, 1996, for the shotgun killings of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. They are each serving two consecutive life prison terms without the possibility of parole. Lyle, now 33, is being held at the California Correctional Institution at Tehachapi. Erik, now 31, is at the California State Prison in Sacramento County.
TRIAL SUMMARIES:
April 12, 1996: Allegations of misconduct raised against defense attorney
April 5, 1996: Sister of Jose Menendez regrets not telling authorities about abuse
March 29, 1996: Penalty phase of trial opens
March 22, 1996: Brothers are found guilty of first-degree murder
March 15, 1996: Two jurors removed from case for medical reasons
March 8, 1996: Jury begins deliberations
March 1, 1996, 2001: Defense attorney says prosecutor tried to win case for "political reasons"
February 23, 1996: Closing arguments begin
February 16, 1996: Defense attacks credibility of friend to whom Erik confessed
February 9, 1996: Lyle Menendez's former fiancee contradicts Erik's earlier testimony
February 2, 1996: Defense rests after judge rules Erik's therapist cannot testify
January 26, 1996: Defense demands mistrial over prosecution's questioning of witness
January 19, 1996: Cousin testifies Jose Menendez spent hours alone with Erik in his bedroom
January 12, 1996: Psychologist testifies that Erik suffered from post traumatic stress syndrome
January 5, 1996: Erik admits that he told a friend he killed his parents
December 22, 1995: Prosecutor challenges Erik's claims that his father molested him
December 15, 1995: Erik testifies he feared his parents would kill them
December 8, 1995: Erik testifies his father beat, belittled and raped him
December 1, 1995: Defense witness calls reconstruction of crime scene "junk science"
November 22, 1995: The state rests its case
November 17, 1995: Defense attorney Leslie Abramson attacks key prosecution witness
November 10, 1995: Jury sees dozens of gruesome photographs
November 3, 1995: Lyle Menendez tells friend he's worried about recorded therapy sessions
October 27, 1995: Brothers went on wild spending spree after slayings
October 20, 1995: Jury listens to the audiotape of the 911 call
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Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted of first-degree murder on March 20, 1996, for the shotgun killings of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. They are serving life prison terms without the possibility of parole.
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Lyle's Probation Report
The probation report for Lyle Menendez. Judge Stanley Weisberg ordered Lyle and his brother Erik to serve two consecutive life terms without parole for the 1989 shotgun slayings of their parents
Erik's Probation Report
The probation report for Erik Menendez
Menendez Juror Chat
Lesley Hillings, a juror in the second Menendez murder trial, and reporter Mary Jane Stevenson talked in this April 22, 1996 chat.
Sentencing Transcript
A transcript of Judge Stanley Weisberg's decision to sentence Erik and Lyle Menendez to serve two consecutive life terms without parole, one for each parent
Circumstances Breakdown
An explanation of the circumstances that the jury had to consider when deciding the fate of the Menendez brothers
How the Penalty Phase Works
An explanation of the "penalty phase" of the trial
Jury Instructions
The instructions given to the jury regarding the fate of the Menendez brothers
Jury Profile
A profile of the jury
Motion on Escape Plans
The full text of a motion filed by Lyle Menendez to block the prosecution from introducing evidence at the retrial that he intended an attempt to escape police custody
Prosecution Response to Spending Exclusion
In response to last-minute motions filed by the defense, the court addresses issues ranging from credit cards that were seized during a police search that the defendant wants returned to his request for bail.
Prosecution Motion to Exclude Bath Photos
In this motion, filed June 14, 1995, prosecutors ask for photos that were used in the first trial to be excluded from use in the retrial. In the first trial, Lyle Menendez claimed his father took pictures of him and his brother in the shower or the bath and while they changed their clothes.
Motion to Exclude Spending Habit Evidence
In this June 12, 1995 motion, defense lawyers ask the court for an order prohibiting the prosecution from introducing evidence that Lyle and Erik Menendez went on a spending spree following the murders of their parents.
Response to Exclude Out-of-Court Statements
The full text of a motion filed by Lyle Menendez to block the prosecution from introducing evidence at the retrial that he intended an attempt to escape police custody.
Motion on Psychological Testing
The full text of a motion filed by Lyle Menendez to block the prosecution from introducing evidence at the retrial that he intended an attempt to escape police custody.
Motion to Exclude Testimony
The state's motion seeking to exclude the testimony of teachers, coaches, friends and family members during the retrial of Erik and Lyle Menendez. The motion was filed Oct. 27, 1994.
Camera Banned
Judge Stanley Weisberg bans television cameras from the retrial of Erik and Lyle Menendez in an October 6 ruling.
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