Thirty years ago, no one wanted anything to do with the brothers Erick and Kyle Menendez, the cruel killers of their parents who were sentenced to life in prison (two each, for the lives they took) without the right to parole. Today, October 4, 2024, their case was officially reopened by the American Justice Department to review the sentence. A story is almost as fascinating as the crime they committed.

In the inversion of values ​​that only the passage of time provides, we see a ‘fight’ between the brothers’ new godparents, all wanting to be ahead of what is becoming a symbol of injustice. The brothers shocked the world in the early 1990s when they revealed that they had been sexually abused by their father, José Menendez, that their mother Kitty was complicit, and that the result of years of torment was the brutal murder of both.

Three decades ago, due to the discomfort and details of the male sexual abuse, the general feeling was that the two lied to avoid the death penalty and that the motive for the crime was purely material. They claim that they believed their father was going to kill them and therefore defended themselves. What stood against them was the fact that José was threatening to exclude them from the $14 million inheritance that was left to them and that they spent almost a million in just thirty days after the murder.

Anyway, all of this is more than well-known, what has changed is that in the last three or four years the TikTok generation discovered the case, fell in love with the two, and launched a campaign that went viral calling for the freedom of the Menendez brothers, something that gained such significant relevance that it attracted the attention of showrunner Ryan Murphy and Kim Kardashian, both indirectly involved in the issue.

The Netflix series, Monsters: The Erick and Lyle Menendez Story, arrived on the platform a few weeks ago to an expected and complex criticism because it is not openly sympathetic to the brothers. At least in the simplistic view of young people driven by algorithms. Murphy makes a point of presenting ALL versions of the story, including the one that is sympathetic to the victims who were never able to speak out. Personally, I found the series somewhat more negative towards them than the pro, but everyone felt differently. I suggest watching this week’s Estúdio Pow! Podcast, which will address the topic.

Angered by the criticism, Ryan Murphy defends himself by having brought the whole controversy back into the spotlight and arguing that Netflix’s reach is a billion-dollar platform that gave the Defense the space that the two did not have in the two trials. Furthermore, it does not support the life sentence.

Kim Kardashian, who advocates for the rehabilitation of convicted individuals and the review of sentences, has this platform in her philanthropic activity. Last week, she visited the brothers, who have already served around 34 years in prison, most of that time separated from each other. Until they were discovered by TikTok, they had exhausted most of the appeals processes. Now they have the very likely prospect of being released by the end of the year, since if the sentence is not life, they will have already served a good part of the sentence and both have exemplary behavior behind bars.

After all, who is really managing to help the Menendez brothers? Sorry, TikTok, but the prosecutor said it was Netflix. According to him, “Mr. Murphy’s docudrama has generated a buzz and resulted in many calls to his office.”

The Menendez family, who have always testified on behalf of the brothers, have been asking for a review of the case for years, especially with the knowledge and recognition of sexual abuse as a factor in interfering with people’s mental health. Only on the side of Kitty’s relatives is there division.

Kitty’s sister believes that “time has given perspective” and that “continued incarceration serves no purpose for rehabilitation.” And that “it’s time.” The only vocal opponent of the two has always been Milton Andersen, one of her brothers who refuses to forgive them. “They don’t deserve to walk the face of this earth after killing my sister and brother-in-law,” he said in a documentary.

The final decision will be on November 29, when the two will have their review hearing. As Ryan Murphy says, the likelihood that they will spend Christmas free is more than real, it’s almost guaranteed.

Pesquisar

Pesquisar