Menendez Brothers' Juror Speaks Out, What you didn't see at the trial | COURT TV
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- Опубликовано: 28 янв 2021
- THE MENENDEZ MURDER TRIALS: Erik and Lyle Menendez stood trial for the 1989 killing of their parents Kitty and Jose Menendez.
We spoke with a Menendez juror and author about her experiences with the case.
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I'm fed up with monsters that abuse children!!! These abused children are destroyed mentally and emotionally. So sad how people don't believe them when they finally get the courage to speak out and ask for help. Why can't people sympathize and realize the prison that these children have lived in, most of them for years. Just cus your parents are rich doesn't mean that they can't be monsters. When our abuser finally left us, all the weight of the world lifted but the engraved nightmares will always be there for the rest of our lives. We're now waiting for the trial. Please pray for me and my children that he gets the punishment he deserves!!!
Exactly! You are right, when your abuser finally leaves you alone or is not their it’s not easy nightmares are there. It’s worst for man, cause usually nobody believes a man. They were going through this and with a rich father they new nothing was going to be done.
I have no mercy for child abusers!
Love & Light to you Veronica💗thank you for sharing your courageous beliefs of justice for children!
Gee, if you know it all, why do we have juries? You should decide for everyone. 🙄
@@taffycat5049 protecting an abuser?
They should be released they have served MORE than enough time 😡
Yes there a lot in prison that should not be in there. 😠
@Peb Kit why would they come to my home lol
@Peb Kit lol there are plenty of murderers who are free right now who already served their time. Ive seen someone gets 5 years for a murder charge lol. Life in prison for killing 2 child predators is ridiculous this case was completely politicized, it was right after the OJ trial & they wanted to make an example of them. That is NOT justice. Its afreaking joke 😂
@Peb Kit there are murderers running free in ur neighborhood right now nothing u can do about it.
@Peb Kit OH they are so much welcome in my home! I believe they are no cold blooded murderers as the media portray them to be. And you clearly haven't watch their testimony / interviews enough.
I pray for them. They deserve an appeal... they have served enough time for being sexually abused by their cruel, abusive father.... and their mother who did nothing to protect them
They premeditated the murders and bought lots of shit after they killed them.... Guilty as hell
@@derekweinerttv4163 they’ve been spending money lavishly since they were young, plus their mother always spent money lavishly. Spending money lavishly wasn’t a new thing to them. Plus if you watched the trials, you would know that Eirk and Lyle had no idea and felt guilt about all the money they were about to inherit.
Their mother sexually abused Lyle as well.. so did his father. I’m not sure about their mother sexually abusing Erik tho, I know she liked him more according to the brothers, but I do not know about sexual abuse from the mother to Erik
Absolutely!
I believe that if the exact same crime happened today, with incest and sexual abuse being so much more understood it would’ve turned out so differently. Such a tragedy all the way around …
I felt and still feel even immense sorrow for these two boys! They planned to murder to end the abuse ... their your minds were not mature enough to understand the severity of their decisions! I felt rehabilitation and psychotherapy should have been the decisions the courts made but it's so sad that the victims were criminalized 😪😔🥺
Riight...not mature enough
They were adults ...
They were mature enough to join the Marines.
Sure, the brothers got the money but I don’t think that was anything they truly cared about. I see it as freedom. If I was abused, I can see why they had fun buying anything they wanted. I’d feel free and happy. To know my abusers would never hurt me again had to be such a relief! And if they felt happy and bought material things with their abuser’s money, well that’s pretty satisfying too!
All I ever saw from them was the feeling of, ”make it stop!” But the prosecution turned it into a case of money. A case of how could you do that to your parents. A case of their father being an upstanding, successful man. But when the lights went off in the house and night fell around them, their sadistic, perverted father would invade their security and safety and force them into horrific sexual acts. The saying couldn’t be more true-you never know what goes on behind closed doors.
@@JulieannsSerenity well said!
I was a teen, and I have recently revisited this trial [ now as an adult ] and i have no doubt in my mind, these boys would be dead, if they hadnt killed their parents FIRST. So much abuse. I truly hope the case is open and reconsidered.
You are not thinking clearly
Some people have asked why did they just not go to the police?
Clearly, some people do not understand about C.A.
Yeah... Especially when you’re raised by your abusers. Also, it’s weird to me that the justice system acquits grown ass women for stabbing and killing their abusive partner’s while they’re sleeping but these boys couldn’t freak out after telling their dad to stop touching them several times... Completely dismissive and duplicitous of the public... I hate that.
@@samie7025 . And don’t forget it was the MEN on the jury that wanted the murder sentence, none of the women did. So it’s men and male judges giving women less harsh sentences than men. Women get blamed for that, but I have found that women are way tougher on other women in court.
Free The Menendez Brothers 2021! 💯
FREE THE MENENDEZ BROTHERS 2024!!
I've always believed all the abuse accusations. I think they should have gotten manslaughter charges and not murder.
They didn't leave because they were trauma bonded to their abusers and their brain development was stunted by years of neglect and abuse.
Something I noticed... when one of the brothers was testifying about the abuse while the other brother sat and listened you could see the pain in his face. It was so real, you could see the veins in his neck popping out , you could see the the anger in his neck the fear. That couldn't be faked.
@@Monalisa0622 I agree. I watched the trial when it was happening back then and the pain on their faces was so obvious. 😔
@@Monalisa0622 Agreed. That was gut wrenching. You could tell that Lyle felt extreme guilt over not having protected Eric from it.
Thank you. Finally someone with a brain who knows a thing or two about the psychology of abuse in this comment section
Correct heidi
American jail terms are too long and inhumane. They have served enough time, and should be released.
Well...if they were abused this bad I agree. Otherwise two ppl won’t get undead
If there was any evidence of sex abuse, they shouldn’t even be found guilty of anything. It’s ridiculous that people are allowed to be sexually and physically abused as children, and the moment the victim snaps, they go from victim to criminal. We need to protect people better than this. It bothers me that we live in a nation where a man is justified for killing his cheating wife in the heat of the moment, but a teenager that kills their rapist, is unjustifiable and labeled a murder.
And sometimes guess what ? Lies are made up to justify brutal killings.
There was tons of evidence including photos, 60+ witnesses, and letters. They had more evidence than most sexual abuse cases
Being abused is not an justification for murder it is a mitigating factor for a lesser sentence. But they still would get jail.
@@soph5669 Guess what? They murdered their abusers and not anyone else! Loving parents don't get killed, period.
@@melisentiapheiffer3034 exactly!
anybody who has ever done any research into this case can see they were telling the truth
How so?
@@AT-iy8mf Because there is evidence of the abuse. Now, another victim of Jose Menendez has come forward. These boys were SA. Who has pictures of their children’s genitalia? It’s disgusting. It was shown at trial.
Because there was enough evidence for sexual abuse. It wasn't allowed in court... -_-
No evidence whatsover of the abuse! Only their lies
@@ritaeichler2066 Do your research.
dude i got abused not sexually and i told people and they said i lied so thats why people dont tell people dummy
That case was a god damn travesty! Seriously its pretty obvious they were abused! Damn.
These brothers are liars. They were spoiled and entitled.
Anybody knows the truth. But if there are witnesses of the abuse, why they didn´t take them to the trial?
Finally someone said it
@@LauRa-re9un The cousin told in court that as kids one of the brothers told him about abuse by his father and not to tell anyone. The tipical from an abused chids.
@@kaydeblair4283 You are too young to remember how these guys were when they were arrested. The whole abuse thing never even came up until the end of the trial because they couldn’t find any defense for them.
My heart goes out to them.
Sicko
I pray for these two to be freed. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 After their horrific childhood they deserve a few happy moments in this earth, it was not their fault in which household they were born into.
I truly hope they are released soon.
She wasn't protecting them either sothere would have been a great deal of bad feelings toward her as to why mom didn't protect them. I had nobody to protect me and it sucks when you're abused and nobody stops it but I didn't speak out like I said until I was 32.
AMEN sister. As a fellow survivor, I agree that it's hell when, as a child, you have to regularly protect yourself from someone the family stands by whole-hartedly. It's disturbing how many people "shoulda/ woulda" something of this nature when they can't possibly imagine the fear the victim carries with them.
Thats a good point i didnt even consider that 😢
I never told anyone until I was 60.
@@danni1993 it’s never too late and trauma never really leaves. I hope you are well and I hope you have someone to talk to now no matter how much time has passed ♥️
@@soph5669
Thank you for your kind words.
GOD BLESS YOU MR. RAND these brothers should be RELEASED!!!!
my cousins dad was lyle's friend and said that lyle and erik were super smiley and happy.
i feel bad for them 31 years of their lives gone in prison for being victims. more erik which was just 18 years old
btw my cousins dad is 54 years old :)
They are not the victims! The parents were the victims. What is wrong with everyone? Do we condone double murder ???
I understand why the jury was hung, by the law yes the brothers murdered their parents, but listening to the abuse, it's hard to punish someone who went through that.
Being abused isn’t a justification for murder. Obviously they were going to be punished for it. But it should have been voluntary manslaughter which is 22 years.
@@kaylinwhite6584 cant use emotions. It clearly was premidated, planned & not self defense. That is murder not manslaughter.
@@ritaeichler2066 I agree.
I didn't even know CourtTV was back!! Love Vinnie!
If they wanted money all they would have had to do is sue their parents for all that "abuse" they had endured.....
I believe them
I think these 2 guys have served enough time. I'm not saying that murdering the parents was the answer, but when nobody's listening I can see how these 2 did what they did. Stop the Abuse of children!!!
My aunt Terry was Erics penpal&sent care packages to him:)
That is so sweet! Did he ever respond?
I always believed these brothers. I am not sure about murdering their parents bc that's not the way to handle it but I understand the inclination. I've lived it and it's not something people would understand or how people would react if you lived in that nightmare. It's something only another abused person can see if that makes sense. This case has always haunted me and even though I'm retired and older I remember the abuse like yesterday especially watching this and it triggers the recesses of your soul. I hope they get out they've served their time and prison that's another can of worms and sexual abuse.
New Trial 2021 Please set them free!! They have suffered enough!!
Let them go home to their wives and families. Enough already.
These guys has suffered enough! People that haven't been living in such dysfunctional home, don't always understand how much the abused suffer, both mentally, emotionally and physically. It's like the normal development of the brain stops.
As a survivor of attempted murder (by my mother) I know how much it breaks a human being. My mom suicided 6 months after she tried to kill me. First as an adult and through many many hours in therapy, I know that it wasn't my fault as well as my mom's. She was suffering herself and she didn't want me and my sister be with our dad. He was extremely abusive and beat her up so many times. She tried to get out of the marriage, but he always managed to find us, if we went into hiding. He had a private detective finding us. If he had only let her divorce him, I don't believe she would have been on a downwards spiral with alcohol, medicine and death:
I am so sorry for what happened. I truly hope and pray that everything is going well now, and that you're healing. Stay safe and God bless you
@@vonamir2000 Thank you for your kindness ❤️
Ugh, it is so hard to read about what you have gone through. I totally understand the victims' minds, pain and torture, plus the terror and fear all the time. I wish you all well, and remember, yoy are stronger, more beautiful and more courages now. Not many people have your beauty and wisdom. This makes you very special in my book.
@@Dzanarika1 your kind words makes me wanna push through even more. Thanks ❤
It's really sad that the court/jury don't have enough knowledge about sexual abuse and its consequences. Read David J Pelzers’ book A Child Called "It" and then you might understand the profound impact of sexual, physical, mental and emotional abuse.
Breaks my heart so much.
Please free the MENENDEZ BROTHERS
If only Eric hadn't told the therapist!
The boys would not be able to live with their deed a long time. They are human not psychos
@@jilross4892 im weirdly afraid that lyle would be able to live on
idk why
@@thedykewitch it depends on how strong his Dissoziation was. It was probably much stronger than his brothers
@@thedykewitch I agree
I pray that men in today's society are more enlightened about physical, mental, and sexual abuse. It seems that the women on the juries would have convicted with voluntary manslaughter. There time would have ended long ago. I wish the new evidence would be the realization that we've achieved a higher level of consciousness and awareness. This travesty of injustice has prevailed far too long, seems they were born to suffer, one way or another.
I watched every single moment of this trial. Their father was a living nightmare but so was my and I did tell her even though there was plenty of money to be had if she died. I lived poor off and on for many years and she just passed away. Was I happy? Know! Was I relieved? Yes! And I feel guilty for feeling relieved!
same situation
@@January. due to voice typing 100% of the time and having to do that it didn't exactly sound off and on like I meant it to. I guess you got my drift anyway! :-)
Jesus christ this comment section really shows you who has watched the trial and who hasn't. Half of you are middle aged people who have no knowledge whatsoever about the intricate details of the case or the psychology of abuse
Very true. I have never seen so much ignorance! I think most people cannot compute that an upper middle class family would sexual abuse their children.
So true! People should really stop relying purely on the media and biased documentaries and actually watch the first trial and read the transcripts of the second. Then they will understand why the conviction happened - miscarriage of justice.
People are entitled to their beliefs. It doesn’t mean that they are ignorant.
@@kaylinwhite6584 Ignorant - lacking knowledge or awareness in general; uneducated or unsophisticated.
I think ignorant is apt seeing as a lot of people make judgements about this case based on what they saw in the media 30 years ago. I would also hazard a guess that most people also aren't particularly educated on the true psychological effects of abuse and trauma on children
@@kaylinwhite6584 oh, it absolutely does. Stop spewing nonsense.
Release them, for God's sake! Prosecutors who were quick to charge murder for insurance money, should have been a red flag. Now I really know what they mean by "hindsight is always 2020". Also, give them their damn money back!
@Diamondgirl
Yes! Absolutely. I remember watching that trial... those young men were damaged... to this day, I cannot believe the outcome.
They were charged of murder for the inheritance because of the lavish shopping spree the brothers did 4 days after. You got understand that people who have not been abused in any way would find that a bit suspicious.
My brother who was 10 years younger than me molested me between the ages of 4 and 6 years. I didn't speak out until I was thirty-two and the reaction was devastating!
I find it sickening jurors making money out of this, they shouldn't be allowed
So sad to see eric say "i hated it , i hated it , i hated it ." @10.35 U can see why it made him snap at them and shoot them to death
Yes imagine being a scared son but a growing man & having to go through this when he got home. Horrible.
I don't blame them to be honest, all child molesters should be 6ft under. And the mother knew & did nothing! She's as bad for allowing it. Disgusting!
It wasn’t because they were abused. It was because they had an unreasonable belief that their lives were in danger. They have never said that what they did was justified.
@@kaylinwhite6584 they have to say it because the justice system calls abuse an excuse i do believe that the continuous abuse for 12 yrs and then not letting go erik played a huge part. No doubt they were scared for their lives too because he always threatened to kill them so i guess there were more than one reason to kill
FREE THE MENENDEZ BROTHERS!!!
They need an appeal
They both should be released. They did their time. Child abuse is what causes a lot of our problems in the justice system. It's the underlying cause of so much violence.
Child molesters should never be released from jail.
Gosh I hate that they use the word sex for rape in this trial
The word rape would trigger erik
The father was rich and got away with it
Bless Hazel Thornton. Loved her book!
I always felt very sorry for the Menéndez brother, I believed they paid already far enough they deserved freedom
I think it's disgusting that a juror is allowed to profit from this crime. When I served on s jury, we had to swear an oath that we would not discuss the case outside the jury room and would never discuss it in the future.
In California you can speak about the trial after it has reached a verdict.
Thankyou and that's all hazel the lunatic Thornton has been doing like Robert rand lieing to profit ,robert rand is disgusting and he k ows both brothers are liars
@@nataliadinovecci7840 I see you still haven't learned how to spell.
And, why not in the furure?! Sounds like they do not want truth to come out!
Once a trial is over, you’re allowed to after a certain amount of time. Why wouldn’t you be allowed to discuss it? Seems fishy if you couldn’t.
This was crazy!
FREE THEM
I feel horrible for them.
I honestly would have said voluntary manslaughter.
that presenter needs to be less biased in favour of the prosecution. Every statement he made was meaningless opinions "there was an element of planning involved", "they had no reason to kill the mum"...
Why human law always inhumane...
To punish humans, and protect the abusers.
You would think there would be DNA evidence from assaults. Vaseline containers, bedsheets, other furniture. Cindy Anthony is like this mom, knows her husband shady, doesnt care.
Disagree! Casey Anthony made shit up. These men were tortured!
@@noonespecial619 Casey Anthony was being victimized more than half her life. Probably since she was Caylee’s age.
THIS IS HORRIBLE WHAT THEY WENT THRU !! 😭
Murder seems to excite you far to much
Honestly, even if they are lying about the abuse (which I doubt) I still have sympathy for them. Even without abuse, I’m sure it was hell for them
Yah I mean I think the sexual abuse was pretty thoroughly corroborated to the point that I take it as a fact of this case. But even if you remove the sexual abuse from the equation, they still lived a tortured life. The tennis schedule they were forced through was abusive enough to drive someone insane imo.
Maybe, but that doesnt justify the crimes, that they are guilty of murder 1. Many abused children do not murder their parents. They were old enough to leave & make a life of their own. But they wanted the millions of money they knew they would inheritate plus the life ins. Which they got.
They were abused period. They need to be released. Enough is enough.
That's no excuse for killing your parents in cold blood
This is sad. I don't even understand how people looked at this and didn't feel immense sorrow and empathy. I'm not sorry to say that I don't and never will feel sympathy over the death of child abusers. Their own father. The man who was meant to love and protect them...It's tragic.
@Jacob Lewis No, I would not but if you have an interest in true crime you would know that many people do. Some of them even have children by their parents and stay with them until something happens. It's kind of what victims do...not all of them, but a lot.
@Jacob Lewis People like you who say that there was zero evidence get on my nerves. There is a shit ton of evidence to prove that they were being abused to 58+ witnesses, letters, and even photographic evidence.
@Jacob Lewis Actually half of the jury believed them which is why they had to have a retrial. The only reason they were found guilty was because the judge ruled out very important evidence regarding the abuse during the second trial. Several jurors have said years later after the brothers were sentenced that if they were allowed to hear their family history and see the evidence the judge ruled out they would have not sentenced them to life in prison. If you think they killed for money you know nothing about their case.
@Jacob Lewis You love to mention the the fact that they went on a spending spree after the murders and because of that it proves they killed them for money when family and friends have said countless times they spent money like that all the time. They used shopping as a coping mechanism like their mother did. Their lawyers did everything they could during the second trial since the judge ruled out very important evidence. And again the jurors themselves said they would have not sentenced them to life if they were allowed to hear and see all the evidence from the first trial. Its obvious that their father had been molesting them from the pictures he took of their genitals when they were toddlers (that's child pornography and there is no good explanation as to why he had those photos or even took them in the first place) to the letter Erik wrote to his cousin in '88 a year prior to the murders about how the abuse was still happening and I quote "I can't stand to see him, I never know when it's going to happen and it's driving me crazy. Every night I stay up thinking he might come in. I need to put it out of my mind, I know what you said before but I'm afraid. You just don't know dad like I do. Hes crazy! Hes warned me a thousand times about telling anyone especially Lyle" To Lyle telling a friend he and Erik had been molested months prior to the murder. 58+ witnesses including family, friends, coaches, teachers, etc, etc. All these people testified about the different types of abuse the brothers had endured at the hands of their parents. But are they all lying too?
If I was one of the brothers I would have hidden tape recorders Etc to prove what was happening to me so the authorities could have some proof Ironclad proof this was happening.
But it never happened
any updates on them? how are they now?
They deserve better than what they got
That terrible judge engineered that second trial to find them guilty. This is such a tragedy and injustice. And people brag about the u.s. justice system.
So true!!
Give them a new TRIAL
And clearly this is why people take matters into their own hands!!!! 🤦🤷💯 No justice for these monsters and no support for the victims.
What the hell?
Whether or not they were abused, they had the option to just leave! Killing their parents should not have been an option. They didn't want to do that because they didnt want to give up the money or the lifestyle. These people make me sick.
A chronically abused child does NOT think of leaving the situation. Even among animals this is true. I’m not an expert that can explain it but it makes some sense. If life is this bad in a place you should be cared for wouldn’t it be worse outside? It’s universal for a child abused from the time they are young to believe there’s something wrong with themselves.
The parents would not let them leave & they were scared.
Erik and Lyle were evaluated to have the emotional age of 10 year olds. They did not have the mental state to believe that they could simply leave and not have their father track them down. Learn a thing or two about the psychology of abuse
Answered in the clip.
@@Jen39x idiot , I was abused at 13 and I left. Many do.
My heart broke for these boys but all they had to do was to leave home as soon as they turned 18...murder is not the answer......
You believed them?
I also believe in the abuse, but i think they hated their parents for the abuse and the lack of protecion from the mother too and they wanted the money. If they leave they have nothing. In our minds we think leaving is ok, but in their minds they deserved that money.
Erik tried to leave for collage. It isn’t that easy Annette, your comment is extremely insensitive
This person’s Annette comment was insensitive. Idk if you were trying to be but people who has been abused whether that is mental, emotional, physical, sexual or all of the above, it is hard for someone to leave that situation. If you’ve ever been in that situation, you would know that it’s not that easy.
These boys had no one to go to. Even if they ran to their family members, their parents would’ve known that that’s the first place they would look into. Plus how could they even break it into them and tell them what tf was going on without being hysterical. And the boys had no money like that. And where would they even go? Their parents were on their asses 24/7 and they would threatened to kill them if they were to ever leave or told anyone about what was going on in the house. Erik wanted to leave to go to college because of the shit he was going through. But his parents wouldn’t let him. Murder may not be the answer but in this situation what they did was self defense. If they didn’t defended themselves in that right moment, they would have been KILLED by their parents.
I cannot believe people condoning murder. There is no validation for murder. None. No one has the right to murder under any circumstances.
They were repeatedly abused by their parents, nobody knows what that is like. When children are tormented, it’s not surprising why they did what they did. I think they have been punished enough. It’s wrong to punish the victims this way. There is no way that they would murder their parents for no reason.
Nobody is condoning murder. I understand that they were suffering greatly.
Self defense is not murder. If you look at the forensics books rapists eventually kill their victims...
The ignorance in this comment section. I pray these boys find peace some day 🙏
Why didnt they reach out to someone, they were 18 and 21 years old. Firstly general distrust into humans, secondly big shame. I am not convinced of what the therapist said, some children do find courage to reach out but we cant expect that of all abused children!
and they did reach out...
The parents were extremely controlling as well. A lot of people don't realize that. Lyle going to Princeton was actually his father's idea, not his and Jose paid to get him in because his grades at Princeton Day School were average. Just before the killings, Kitty asked Jose's sister Terry Baralt (who lived in New Jersey) to spy on Lyle when he went back to Princeton and make sure that his girlfriend was not living there. How many parents of adult children do that? People who claim that the brothers were spoiled and lazy and didn't want to get jobs have no idea what they're talking about.
They didnt just walk out or go to the police because then they would lose their inheritance and money their dad gives them to live off...they would have nothing
or because people were likely not to believe them because child sexual abuse victims, especially males, were not believed back then
Actually, they believed they had already been disinherited and none of the money they killed after their parents came from the estate.
I agree
Do not let these cold blooded murderers out of prison. They were both adults. They could have left the home, got jobs, and wen their own way. They wanted the money. Period. Why they killed the parents is not important at this juncture. The fact remains, they did kill them - both - in cold blood - without the benefit of either parent being able to defend themselves. Not happy with what you have at home? Leave and go make your life better. That's the beauty of America.
ok, this might just be me, but the cut at ~9:57 makes the host come across like he's completely dismissing the guest he's interviewing. almost like he's rolling his eyes.. maybe..? idk, but I hope it's just the editing. I can't imagine anyone wanting to be interviewed in the future if they saw something like that happen to a guest on the show. Although CourtTV is closer to E! than regular journalism I sometimes really miss watching things where no one was trying to spin things a certain way. There's a bit of irony here too since he's literally interviewing two people who are talking about an "injustice" in that specific case involving the media's portrayal of the defendants... while still doing that exact sort of thing... lololol! you guys are ballsy for sure heh
Dont be a 🚬
Jk lol 😊
@@carolyngrey2853I can't help if I'm smokin' h.... wait a minute. -_-
:D
@@skougi haha noo thats not good for u 😊
We talk about the failure of the justice system. We talk about the endless abuse of these two boys. And, absolutely, these horrors are 100% true...
But, do we ever truly step into these boys' skins and actually experience the whole process as they would have lived it?
Just imagine your life in this scenario:
You are born into a family who, from the day you arrive, you are considered second rate. A spare. A failure. Completely insignificant. And, you are never told why. You just know that's what it has been decided you are, and you have to live with it.
You are rejected. Taunted. Tormented. Ridiculed. Seen as below everyone else in the family.
You are hit. Beaten. Cut. Poked. Abused the second you fail at something, or when your efforts were just slightly less than perfect.
You are hated because you are made to believe, from the earliest age, that nothing you do can or will ever please your parents or ever come close enough to being a performance worthy enough of winning their approval or their unconditional love and affection.
You grow into believing that you are defective. Deformed. Unworthy. Stupid. Weak. Ugly.
Every time you fail at your parents' unachievable and inconsistent expectations, you are made to hit yourself in the head as punishment.
No one loves you. Nothing about you can ever meet the levels that have been set, and then continually raised. You feel that you were put here to "not be loved".
Then, one day, for no particular reason that you can understand, you are shown some approval. Finally. Your father decides to show you his affection by being sexual with you. Showing you sex at your early age and grooming you for ongoing sexual episodes at his calling. And, this is not explained to you either. No reason. No context. Just forced onto you when your father sees fit.
You are confused. You are treated like total and utter filth, yet you are shown some attention and approval at random, by the same people who have made it clear that they hate you. The approval you are given is sexual. Emotional, psychological rejection...sexual, physical approval. Again. And again. Over. And over. On a daily repeat. And a never-ending cycle. Rejection...sex...rejection...sex...
Your delicate child mind is destroyed. Your self-perception and self-image are completely shattered.
The two absolutely most important, valuable people in your life; the ones who are absolutely vital and essential to your psychological and emotional growth, are your haters. Your detractors. Your critics. Your abusers. Your destroyers.
You have no one to turn to. There is not a single person in whom you feel you can confide with this horrific, unthinkable apocalypse that is living inside you, every single day, every single minute.
You begin to feel suicidal. You hate yourself for all the pain you're experiencing and for all of the filth you feel crawling beneath your skin and throughout your body because of the sexual abuse.
Eventually, after a whole, entire childhood denied to you, stolen from you, never shown to you, never having been allowed to you, you snap.
Your offenders, your rapists, your soul-destroyers have to be punished.
You have no choice to end what has been done to you your whole life other than by ending their lives.
Then, you are suspected, captured, taken into custody and brought to trial.
Your nation, and the world, watch your trial from the comforts of their living rooms. You are questioned relentlessly by teams of lawyers who pry into your personal life - and suddenly, your whole, entire childhood, and every single moment of abuse, pain, agony, torment, rape, torture and rejection you ever suffered, is layed out bare...and the world gets to see it. All for free.
And, then, after six long, arduous, painful years of your story and your soul being layed naked for the perverse pleasures of the world, and with every intricate detail of every act of abuse committed on you recounted, recalled and retold countless times, as you are put through the harrowing process of reliving every second of it during your interrogations, a jury of twelve random citizens hands down their verdict.
GUILTY.
Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, EVERY SINGLE MOMENT OF TERROR you suffered as a child is wiped from existence. As though not one single second of it ever happened. Twelve absolute strangers have decided for YOU, on YOUR behalf, that you are a spoilt, money-hungry, greedy, cold, calculating murderer, who took their parents' lives to claim an inheritance.
You were NEVER rejected. You were NEVER patronised. You were NEVER beaten. You were NEVER made to hit yourself. You were NEVER raped.
As written in stone by twelve strangers.
And, then, the WORLD decides the exact same thing: that it was all an act. All a show. All a poor, desperate and elaborate hoax created to appeal to the public's pity.
Even after evidence has been shown to support your REAL experience. Even after witnesses have testified, under oath, that you were suffering throughout your entire childhood.
All ERASED. It never happened.
Twelve people.
But, you know that you were raped as a child. And, now, you've been raped again. By the system. By the law. By an ignorant public. By a live broadcast, whoring your life out to the entire globe.
And, where do you go from here? Straight to a cell. No sunshine. Not a second's freedom after the verdict.
Just a cell. For the rest. of. your. life.
Where do you end up inside yourself now? What ACTUALLY becomes of your mental state? How do you cope?
You are now living in a cell with these as your companions:
Your parents' hatred.
The beatings.
The belittling.
The crushed sense of self-worth.
The rapes.
The sexual abuse.
The psychological torture.
The physical scars.
The emotional scars.
The mental scars.
The abused trust.
The orphan inside you.
The recurring feelings of suicide.
The constant nightmares.
The distorted sense of reality.
The dismantling of of your life by a line of legal representatives.
The betrayal of twelve people.
The disowning by a community.
The ignorance of every neighbouring country across the globe.
The self-doubt.
The trepidation about your future in prison.
...and, every day, your memories of this complete timeline.
The suffering that Lyle and Erik Menendez endured is beyond the average person's comprehension.
Only those who've experienced a similar plight can truly understand the depths of just how penetrative the poison of this kind of horror really is.
Our global view is merely an assessment from an armchair perspective. We are the third person.
But, those of us who support them with an understanding and a compassion for abuse-sufferers KNOW that they are innocent victims.
The Menendez brothers were already imprisoned LONG before their trial began. Their childhood was lived inside the walls of emotional discord, sexual torture and psychological battering.
What they've been forced to endure has been punishment enough.
TIME HAS BEEN SERVED.
FREE.
THE.
MENENDEZ.
BROTHERS.
couldn't agree more.
I've watched the full trial, and I guarantee what you have written is absolute garbage. You have to be careful when you portray Lyle and Erik as poor victims, and José and Kitty as horrible monsters because by doing so you might just be reflecting your own stupidity.
The writing was just brilliant, it brought tears to my eyes. 😢😢😢
@@Dzanarika1 Thank-you, my friend. Very kind words, indeed.
🥰🥰🥰
I am sorry but this guy seems to be a fan and wanting to get a bite from the apple sorry Vinny not liking this male guest
He's actually a reporter that has covered the case for many years and just wants justice for the brothers like many others. I see where you are coming from, but he actually doesn't like being the focal point and only wants to inform others on the case and let them come to their own conclusions 💕
Years earlier Erik and a friend wrote a screenplay called "Friends" where a wealthy kid killed his parents with a shotgun and inherited millions.. hmmm
Wow
If they were so abused why did they not report it they were old enough because the dam abuse never happened it was all staged
Yes it is true
Hated the brothers period gready kids at the time no reason to kill ur parents
Everyone says the shootings were self defense, but why did shotguns have to be the defense? Why couldn't they defend themselves with police reports and moving out? They wanted the money it's so obvious.
it's sick to see them still in prison, and i bet anyone if this was happening to them all the way until basically an adult, then you would get sick of it too and kill the one doing it once found out what it was truly going on with your own parents, but these boys were so scared that their own father was gonna kill them and what their mother did was just monstrous.... that is psychological and is sunk in deep considered how they were molested and shoved in a closet to piss and shit in a small tote not to mention how one of the brothers stated how his dad would basically drown him every f'n swim meet...Sick for the state to allow this shit under their jurisdiction to go on...This is just the state abusing them more to keep allowing this to go on...Pple seen money and that was their only excuse instead of checking into facts about these boys, and finding out why they weren't social, had friends, etc...Come on....And for what these juniors to let it go on, and keep letting them set in jail, it's just in my opinion that it is ridiculous, I don't care even at the age of 18 adults, they didn't know what was normal through their whole childhood & teenage years and wasn't allowed to do nothing because of DADDY'S sick twisted mind...
Timestamp 340 those Millions is all they ever thought about!
They’ve served their time. Tragic that they still aren’t free.
It's a crime that they're still in jail. Their parents were monsters.
My parent's
MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE. SEX ABUSE THEY WERE TERRIFIED!!!
Terrified of what. The parents were not plotting to kill them in the moment. They were sitting on the couch watching TV. Also the things they did afterwards was very suspicious. It made people back then believe they were guilty.
@@kaylinwhite6584 psychological fear! FFS!
Oh shut up! Not everyone on this planet is adept in psychology. But even that isn’t a excuse for murder.
Get them out of prison! This has been going on in vane for ages and it is so unfair!
If there were so many witnesses why didn´t they take them to trial? This case is so funny. Actually, I don´t know if they are saying the truth or not. But if they are, it is sad that they are in prison.
They did to the first trial, there was a mistrial because the jury was split. In the second trial the judge did not allow the sexual abuse evidence to be admitted.
@@carolyngrey2853 How strange! isn´t it? Considering that they had money, and specially people that have money have it easier. Even though, it is strange that they didn´t allow that. It was the ´90s, not the ´50s.
@@LauRa-re9un because once they were accused of murder it wasn't THEIR $ anymore! I wonder what did happen to all that $ hmmm🤔
@@carolyngrey2853 It was all lost, I read it somewhere. There is nothing, most of it was lost due to trial expenses. Let me see if I find it.
@@LauRa-re9un makes sense :/
Free the brothers!
I was abused.... I believe them... but theybwent to school had cousins and friends... they could have left... but they were angry wanted revenge and felt like they deserved the money... a mix of abuse narcissistic personality and immaturity... maybe a retrial... to lessen the sentence
No they tried to LEAVE but their parents spied on them and forced them back Home, in the end the father threatened to molest and kill them again and the mother got up to help the father so Lyle said to Erik : the moment has come (their parents had threatened them their whole life to kill them if they would Tell the abuse to anybody) and it was literally a life or death situation.
You can have a RUclips channel in prison?
His wife wins it
they were afraid to leave the home, they were dependent on their parents? then why would they shoot them? im having trouble with that
Lol because they were scared..!
Lyle and Erik explained this themselves during the trial. They became convinced that the parents were going to kill them in order to stop the molestation secret getting out. Lyle had threatened to expose his father a few days earlier after learning he was still abusing Erik and Jose threatened him back. To understand why they didn't run away requires you to learn about the psychology of abuse. They ran into the den and shot at their parents after they became convinced that they were about to die. The brothers were evaluated by 5 different psychiatric experts who all concluded that the brothers told the truth. One of these people was Dr Ann Burgess who is the inspiration for the book and Netflix series "Mindhunter". She worked for the FBI in profiling serial killers and evaluating crime scenes. She determined that the Menendez crime scene indicated it was not planned listing things such as time of day, weapon choice, proximity to neighbours, overkill etc...
I joined the navy at 18. I wanted out of dad's house, that wasn't hard for me to figure that out. I'm sure they even had ads on television in those days encouraging young men to apply . I bet the military would made those two spoiled brats officers,, cause they had bucks.
In your next life grow up being sexual abused. Or just do some reading on the effects of it. She also answered this question by saying when they were evaluated they were emotional 7 or 8.
@@RevisitingMenendez all those experts were for and also against the brothers . The ones that were for them can say they are most likely telling the truth but that doesn’t mean they are. If they were completely innocent they would most likely be free. As grown scared men they could have made the choice to leave which is far less “scary” than shooting up their parents lol . Give me a break
Love how every jury member becomes an author 👀
I think it has been enough for them. It is time to get them out.
I have to say that Lyle’s toupee is pretty good for the 1980’s.....also, I’d be very interested to know the age category of the folks who truly believe they were abused and should not be in prison. I do believe that in order for me to decide if they did it out of malice or due to the abuse I have to watch the whole trials...however, I do remember that their behavior after the murders were inappropriate and immature. If they really did it in self defense then I suppose that one would believe they deserved it and were enjoying life for the first time by buy Rolexes, restaurants, Porsches, clothes, tennis coaches etc....if you believe they did it with malice then you would see their behavior as pure prof of guilt.
If they did it due to molestation they could have just said so not blame the unknown somebody.
Think about it, it was the first time they would've been free, also they were developmentally delayed due to the abuse, and Lyle had always been a big spender. Not to mention that spending is a common coping mechanism.
free them please
Poor guys. The system failed them
For people saying they were not abused and they are just spolied. They are both. One of their cousins told that as kids the older brother told him about the abuse by his father and asked him not to tell anyone. Of course there are no witnes of abuse. The testimony of their abuse is the most honest in all the trial. They did hated their parents, they hated the mother for not protecting them. And they wanted the money that's why they dind't leave. Is not ok what they did and they were happy to kill their abuser but in this case is very clear the abuse hapened and that was a mayor reason behind the hate they have for the parents. Especialy the father who was also violent and very strict and many family friends told that. That should be consider when given a sentence and taking them apart after all the sufering as children is beyond cruel.
I wouldn't really go as far as to say they were happy they killed their abuser at the time. If you listen to the recorded confession tape both brothers say things which are inconsistent with that and Erik specifically is hysterically crying and talking about also loving his father. He was completely guilt ridden and in tremendous pain over what he did.
@@RevisitingMenendez Yes i agree, i used the word happy because poeple say they went to shopping spree shorty after the killings and that show they dind't have any remorse. I can understand that they were spending the money and having some "freedom" of whataver they felt since children. They did have remorse, i remember especialy how they broke when confronted about the killing of the mother. People don't understand human behavior and criminal psycology and think that if they are enjoyng the money they were never abused and it's all lies. Is not that simple. Most killers lie about abuse because they want lighter sentences, i'm very positive this is not the case and i fell very sorry for this brothers and what they did.
@@SoneBlink Exactly. Most people look at this case through a general lens without considering the psychology behind the actions. I'd also note that it was mostly only Lyle who went on the spending spree because that's how he dealt with the depression. Erik didn't know what to do with the money and went along with whatever his family suggested. Both brothers on the confession tape also say that they were considering suicide. It's sad to see how much the media has distorted the facts of the case.
These two lovely men should be freed. They have gone through hell. Parents are there to protect the children and not to molest, torture and let them suffer both mentally and physically. Shame on their parents. God bless these two beautiful souls and set them free. Hats off to their wives who have been supporting them throughout.
Yes duh jfc
Me! I was born in 1994 😂
I hope they will be released finally. Poor boys! It‘s a system fail! Their parents were monsters! To separate them also in jail is the hardest punishment! Why?!