In a KNBC Los Angeles news segment, anchors Jonathan and Annabelle discuss Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman's press conference announcing that his office has filed a motion asking a court to deny the Menendez brothers' latest habeas corpus petition, which seeks a new trial. The petition introduces two new pieces of evidence: a purported letter from Erik Menendez to his cousin Andy Cano alleging sexual abuse by their father José Menendez, and a declaration from former Menudo member Roy Rosello claiming he was also abused by José. Criminal defense attorney and legal analyst Manny Medrano critiques the DA's response, noting that the DA dismissed the petition as “bogus,” questioning the credibility and admissibility of the new evidence, and highlighting alleged inconsistencies in the brothers' accounts and alleged suborned perjury. Medrano also explains that, despite the DA’s opposition, the ultimate decision rests with the judge, with a ruling expected next month, and that resentencing and clemency remain possible avenues for the brothers. The segment provides a concise overview of the current legal tracks—habeas petition, resentencing, and clemency—surrounding the Menendez case.
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Yes, right here. Are we listening to LA District Attorney Nathan Hochman, uh, at a news conference there in downtown announcing that his office has now filed, uh, an official response asking a court to deny the Menendez brothers' latest habeas attempt to call for a new trial. This is one of 3 different legal tracks that the Menendez brothers are attempting in addition to clemency from the governor as also a resentencing that was called on by Hochman's predecessor, George Gascón, to try and free themselves, uh, from decades in prison. In the murder of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. Hochman there seeming very skeptical of the brothers' position in this latest habeas case. They've already lost 2 habeas cases already.
And we should mention that this second habeas motion that was filed is a second one here in California, and this one is the one that includes 2 new pieces of evidence. And we're talking about that photo of a letter from Erik to his cousin Andy Cano discussing the sexual abuse by his father, Jose Menendez. And then the second is that declaration by Roy Rosello saying he had been abused by Jose Menendez. And Roy Rosello is that band member from Menudo. We want to bring in our criminal defense attorney, Manny Medrano. Manny, let's talk about this and talk about some of that evidence that's making him sound or feel a little skeptical about this.
Jonathan, Annabelle, first let me just say this for you. There is no question that District Attorney Hochman has just shredded completely shredded the habeas corpus petition by the Menendez brothers. He is unimpressed with it. He is rejecting it for all the reasons that we just heard over this 30-minute, 38-minute press conference. This habeas corpus, as you said right now, Annabelle, hands its hat on two new pieces of evidence, right? A purported letter saying that, uh, well, uh, that one of the Menendez brothers had been sexually assaulted by his, by his dad this letter supposedly existing before the murders. And then the second piece of evidence that a member of the Menudo group allegedly claimed that he had been sexually assaulted by the dad, José. Well, as I said, Nathan Hochman has done what every good prosecutor should do, go through the entire record, all the transcripts, which are thousands and thousands of pages. And I know, 'cause I was a legal analyst covering both Menendez brothers' trials, and completed, and Hochman has completed, has proceeded to completely reject all the key defense arguments, including, uh, the letter. Well, they knew about this letter since 2015. Why did they delay so long in the habeas to present it to the new judge? And second, uh, he also mentioned that the letter is simply not admissible. Uh, it's not credible. The defendants are not credible. They've given 5 different versions of what happened at the time of the murder. They have what's called suborned perjury. That means they tried to recruit witnesses to claim to support support the Menendez brothers' defense. And finally, they hid evidence, hid the shotguns, hid the bloody clothes. You put this ball of wax together, Nathan Hochman has filed papers with the judge saying, Your Honor, deny the petition, it's bogus, those guys should stay in prison for the rest of their lives.
Manny, forgive me because we have to go to more breaking news, but just very quickly, is resentencing still a possibility for the Menendez brothers?
Absolutely, because as, as Hochman told everyone right now, this is just the opinion of Hochman and the papers that they filed. At the the day. It's up to the judge to decide what he's going to do with this case, and that is expected to happen next month.
All right, Manny Medrano, thank you so much for that.
