Transcript
Unknown Speaker (0:00)
Foreign.
Ashley Banfield (0:04)
Hey, everybody, I'm Ashley Banfield. This is Drop Dead Serious and wow, the bonus episode. I always promised that I'd drop. And I tell you, please subscribe so you don't miss these. I have one here. And it's all about Eric and Lyle Menendez. Because there is breaking news tonight, y' all. A judge has dismayed the biggest ruling in this case in decades. Eric and Lyle Menendez actually have a shot at freedom right now. Like a big one. Like not just, you know, let's talk about the possibilities. No, the judge actually said they have a right to be re sentenced. Okay. It means a ton. It means a ton because the judge said 50 to life instead of life, no parole. Okay. Life, no parole means toe tag parole. You're not leaving the prison unless you got a tag on the end of your toe and you're being wheeled out in a box. But 50 to life means 50 years to life and maybe parole at 50 years. So. Well, that would mean at least another decade and a half. Right, Because Eric and Lyle have been there for 35 years or so. No. Why does that mean they get parole now? They haven't served 50 years. They're still 15 years away from 50 years because of a new law in California, a Youthful Offender Act. And a Youthful Offender act said that people who were sentenced, youth who were sentenced to life, no parole, youth up to the age of 26 should have the opportunity for earlier parole. And Eric and Lyle Menendez were under the age of 26. So they benefit from the Youthful Offender act. And it means they can qualify for parole right away for 35 years. Eric and Lyle have sat behind bars, rarely showing much emotion in court since the trial. Right. But today, that all changed. It started with a crack in the courtroom armor because a soft smile came from both brothers at a moment where a retired judge named Jonathan Colby was in court talking about his golden retriever. Why? Because those brothers had been part of, like, a pet program in the prison. And that retired judge, they had a dog that was part of that program. That judge actually brings the dog with him when he volunteers at the prison. And Eric and Lyle have met the dog more than a few times. And then came something even more rare. Actual tears. Lyle Menendez appeared to wipe his eyes as Honore Brown, a former inmate and now successful rapper who I've interviewed about this case. He took the stand and Brown got emotional, talking about the Menendez brothers and the impact those brothers had on his own life. He said if it wasn't for them, he would still be in prison, still lost, still making, quote, stupid decisions. But instead, he's out. He has kids, he has a music deal. He's got a job working with the naacp, helping former inmates reintegrate into society. And he says it is all thanks to the Menendez brothers. What's amazing here is that Honore Brown also got out under the new statute, the Youthful Offender Law. He benefited from it. And he benefited from it because the Menendez brothers taught him about it. And so he even joked that he didn't go to college. He went to, quote, Menendez University. Brown's testimony came after retired Judge Jonathan Colby, who used to oversee felony cases, told the court that meeting the Menendez brothers changed how he views rehabilitation. That if he were still on the bench today, he said he would make different decisions. And the prosecutors pressed him on it, asked him if he'd apply that same logic to the crimes the brothers committed. And former Judge Colby said he wouldn't go there. He actually deferred to the current judge on the bench in this courtroom, Judge Jessick. And yes, they brought up the past. The prosecutors reminded the court about the past allegations of attempted perjury during the trials, and even Lyle's possession of a contraband cell phone while in custody. But none of that stopped the judge from. From making his ruling. Judge Michael Jessick said he is not releasing the brothers today, but that he is declaring them eligible for parole, which means that the decision is now in the hands of the parole board and ultimately the governor. Either one could make the decision right away. Right? So if the parole board makes the decision, then the governor has to sign off, but the governor could just jump ahead and order clemency himself. The judge said it is not happening today, quote, but he made it very clear he's not saying that they shouldn't be released. He even said that he was moved by the letters from prison staff officers who worked inside the facility. These officers wrote in in support of the brothers. And just before Judge Jessick made his decision, Eric and Lyle both addressed the court. And Eric and Lyle did not hold back. Lyle Menendez came clean and admitted so much. Let me read. On August 20, 1989, I killed my mom and dad. I make no excuses. I take full responsibility. The choice to point a gun at my mom and dad and shoot them. The choice to run and lie, and after my arrest, the choice to make a mockery of the legal system. He called his decision to buy the guns, quote, illogical, and said today, 35 years later, I am deeply ashamed for who I was. Sitting in that jail. But he also talked about redemption. I try to live a life now that makes amends for the harm I caused. I look forward to being able to reunite with my extended family, end quote. And Eric Menendez echoed the same thing. I have no excuse, no justification for what I did, and there's nothing that makes it less wrong. Wrong. End quote. He said plainly, quote, I bought guns. I bought ammunition. I fired all five rounds at my parents, end quote. And then he reflected, quote, I had to stop being selfish and immature and really feel what my parents must have gone through on August 20, 1989, end quote. And finally, this promise, quote, for the rest of my life, whether inside or outside prison, I will not stop working to make a difference, end quote. So now the waiting begins. The parole board is scheduled to decide what happens next. A meeting. June 13th. I mean, that's exactly one month from now. I'm recording this on May 13th, Lyle and Eric get their meeting with the parole board.