Erik Menenedez Takes the Stand - (1993) CA v. Menendez Brothers | COURT TV
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- Опубликовано: 13 июн 2021
- (1993) CA v. MENENDEZ: #ErikMenendez takes the stand in his own defense.
Brothers Erik and #LyleMenendez are on trial for the August 1989 shotgun murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in the family's Beverly Hills mansion. The brothers were arrested in March 1990 after Erik confessed during a session with his psychologist. During the highly publicized trial, the prosecution claimed the motive was greed as the brothers stood to inherit $14 million. The defense claimed that it was an act of self-defense in a desperate attempt to escape years of childhood family violence and sexual abuse.
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No wonder victims don’t want to speak up. Imagine being questioned by such callous people, being forced to state very explicit details out loud and still have the possibility that people won’t believe you. This is so heartbreaking.
Yup
Agree 100% - Podcast Real Crime Profile has a four part series on this case. Its amazing and worth a listen.
Most victims don't premeditated murder their parents with a shotgun. Filing a police report and getting away from your abuser usually works.
@@optimisticcosmic I guess it never occurred to them to get the hell out of these people's home, get jobs and provide for themselves.
Imagine if they had reported the alleged abuse. The parents would be on trial where they could face questioning and have a chance to tell their side. The brothers would be free right now.
The fact that they found naked photos of the boys says enough.
I don't know how can people say that they didn't have any proof of the abuse 🤦♀️
@@sana_the_bookaholicI know right, its so annyoing
@@aliengore yes and even that tape recording of donovan goodreau's conversation with Robert Rand was such a concrete evidence.
@@sana_the_bookaholic BIGGEST EVIDENCE
And the fact that their cousins said that revealed it to them two different cousins one of the boys asked if it was normal when he was only ten (forget which brother) and the other an totally different cousin. An older female cousin said she had one of them beg her when he was 8 to let him sleep with her in the spare room and told her their dad was doing this and then their stupid mother came in and demanded that he not sleep in the spare room with his cousin and go back to his own room.
The part where he said he didn't tell his friends about the ongoing rape because he wanted them to like him just broke my heart.
It’s probably because he’s a man and if he comes out and says he was raped either people wont believe him or won’t take him seriously
To know that your not wanted by your mother and then your not considered anything by your father and then treating him the way he was treated all his life, they should not have gone to jail for this long. He is a survivor
It’s still sad watching this, I remember I was 29 when this happened and first I thought “Greedy People “Both of them “ Until I watched the trial on TV ! It’s sad young man like him can’t make this stuff up! It’s happening Every Day! They should both be let out of jail..Enough is Enough! Alcoholic Mother and a PEDO for a Father! SAD 😢
This guy looks like August The Duck
Bs
"Episodes of sexual activity" Rape. It´s called rape. Jesus.
The word rape was a trigger for Erik.
Rape incest and sodomy! They called it having sex !! Deplorable conduct by the attorneys
That is absolutely a shame!!! These Abused boys didn’t have a chance of a Normal Life!!😢
That is absolutely a shame!!! These Abused boys didn’t have a chance of a Normal Life!!😢
The fact that he took nearly a minute to answer the" why " question is so heartbreaking.
Interestingly ,both the brothers have the same body language , calmness , composure ,pain ...is unbelievable.
Nice to see more and more fellow Indians support lyle and erik 😊
that moment makes me sad
It could also be because they were forced to restrain their emotions
Stoic.
Not something, when authentic, that can be forced.
All a act!!!!!
If this case was tried now, I feel like their sentence would be different.
fr!
On real term I doubt ut because of the gender of the brothers, and what they did to get out of it. All together people say you should murder in self defence but in this case it was needed as it was the only way to get out of it. I mean a rich American family, connections and a strict father there is no way out but nobody would take that as an answer. The justice system back then was fucked and it still is
Rose Charlotte Hayley the law system is flawed as is all
Yes completely agree
Maybe they'd get 20 or so years with the possibility of parole
The fact that I’m willing to watch a 3 hour video at 12 o’clock at night really says something
I did the same. Guilty as charged for binge watching crime and investigation shows at the wrong time.
Such a relatable comment!
Watching this 12am -5am
Same... It's 1:07 am rn
It says you have too much time on your hands lol.
he seems to be physically struggling to get the words out when he first talks about the molestation. It absolutely broke my heart and i had to pause for several minutes and cry. I can’t imagine what he and Lyle went through in that household. May god bless Lyle and Erik.
It made me so uncomfortable. I was crying istg. Imagine having to tell basically the world something that you weren't even comfortable enough to tell ur closest friend. Its so heartbreaking
Okay u kill your parents and give the reason of being abused. Where they clearly spent money like hell clearly indicating that they had their eyes on their parents estate
Great!
@@shrikantmahajan831 There was heavy bias against the brothers at the time because homophobia was rampant in the 80s and 90s (hasn’t changed much but is better now in comparison). the defence produced 51 witnesses that corroborated the brothers’ abuse claims. So idk why on earth you would come in here with that ignorant comment. Watch the testimonies that go on for hours where the brothers, their relatives, coaches, teachers, neighbours and so on speak in the brothers’ defence. You really have no idea about this case SMH. Also, The prosecution’s claim that the brothers were after the estate was refuted by the brothers’ defence. They were rich kids, and spending that amount of money wasn’t out of the ordinary for them. They consulted with their relatives before making those investments which the relatives confirmed during the trials. Homophobic individuals and pedophiles will often call the brothers liars for obvious reasons. These brothers literally go into excruciating detail about their abuse, and people still call them liars. It’s unfortunate but not surprising.
@@shrikantmahajan831 llf if my mum and dad done all the stuff their parents did ur fucking right I'm treating myself when the bastards die 💅 I'd be off on holiday on spending sprees especially with the amount they had 💁
@@shrikantmahajan831 They deserved to go on a spending spree.
I think these brothers should be released now
Agreed. Considering the circumstances, they have served enough time.
agreed.
Agreed
Nothing justifies murder.
@@mickey1271 whatever bud
How rude they televised victims of abuse, making them recall sexual details of their abuse. This is just disgusting how the legal system abused these boys all over again.
And yet, here you are watching it...
That's how court works darling
@@Tshedza-mq7oh What sexual assault trial for a woman has ever been televised? Is it ok because these were boys in their 20's? Because thats not ok.😠
Are you applying 2024 media ways to 1990 as if the WeToo movement existed 30 years ago? Nobody had a time machine back then. You cannot rewrite HISTORY! It is what it is. It is not "rude". It is obnoxious, over-reported on, etc but certainly current with the time period which was way before cell phones and certainly before social media. 0.12% of the population in 1990 had cell phones. And you know if people did not have cell phones they certainly did not have social media back then because social media did not exist back then. Social media is how people like you learn from others to be "awake".
ABSOLUTELY!! They're being raped again!
They are 50 and 53 years old now... free them!!!
WHAT OMG
How many years are there in jail?
@@brendabakos9259 I think for life :(
@@brendabakos9259 they both have life in prison.:(
my parents' age
During the 90's, it was difficult for people to understand that boys can experience abuse as well. The outcome of the case would've turned out very different if it happened during this decade.
These guys are still alive and they're still young. I'm not from the U.S. but I really wish these brothers would be set free. I hope people will raise their voices for these guys to be free soon.
The 90's wasn't 5 centuries ago and even then, everyone knew that a father that rapes his children regardless of their gender, is a monster. Thing is, their father was an extremely powerful and well-connected man, plus most people didn't believe them; and STILL don't. You should read certain comments made by vile people today...these 2 boys, now men, will be punished until they die in prison. The System their father was a part of, will make sure they do. It's heart-breaking.
Agree! That is why this case should be reconsidered and send them free. They should have a break to go on with their lives. The abuse they have suffered is unbearable.
It still is to this day they don't take men\boys being abused seriously at all . If these were two sisters they would be out of no jail or had no time at all its bs. Should be taken seriously for both men and women it's gross. A lot of women lie about being abused tho also . Men in my book would never lie about this type of abuse EVER!!
Everyone say, thank you feminism!
There are a lot of comments about his attorney. She is HIS defense attorney and she fought for him with everything she had. In the second trial she became his court appointed attorney for half her wage because he was out of money. Minimizing the abuse and using euphemistic language was a strategy to avoid "the abuse excuse" being used. The defense was trying to argue that they did not kill their parents out of revenge for the abuse but because they were in fear of being killed themselves in the moment. Imperfect self-defense.
It just blows my mind that these boys got the same sentence that a serial killer would get!🤯
Exactly and the media keep making them look like monsters
@@asiyyahmullen8777 yeah. That's disgusting😔
Not even serial killers got this much time....nor sexual abuser....
I just don’t understand it like you are the father of your sons but you’re molesting them and abusing them….you just took away their whole life and their innocence basically:( so sad💔 they need to be free now! I am not saying that killing your parents is okay but they KILLED their parents of self-defense not MURDER. Self-Defense is not murder. They been through a lot, just let them be free! 31 years is ENOUGH
@@hazeldelacruz7575 well said
I do not blame them one bit for killing both of them...
Why is it so easy to blame the victim
@Anna Marie their whole lives had been a prison sentence
@Anna Marie no! Lyle told a reporter shortly after the first trial that they lied about the sexual abuse
@Anna Marie in the Erik Menendez A&E documentary that came out in 2017. Right before they talked about the second trial. That’s why Erik only testified in the 2nd trial and not Lyle
@freemnndz what goes around comes around dear. I believe jose and kitty were not killed by their sons, it was just their bad karma hitting them.
It still blows my mind how these two even were convicted, and the judge not allowing all abuse testimony in the second trail just to save the DA to win a case. These men were VICTIMS and should've never went to prison for life. All that abuse and trauma for their entire childhood they were bound to snap, anyone would.
They should be released now and allowed to live the rest of their lives in peace with help and support they need and know what real love and happiness feels like
@@angelahambley6066 exactly
They didn't snap, they planned it.
@@mickey1271 ritualistic abuse causes one to feel they cannot get out. Trauma is beyond complex. I suggest reading up on trauma and you may view things differently but we are all entitled to our opinion.
@@icequeb1560 They should have been convicted of manslaughter, not murder.
Justice for the Menendez brothers .. they both deserve justice!!
there is no justice on this world sadly, but i just want them out of jail, im praying that happens this year:)
@@jmadventures9830 do you even have a soul?!
@@jmadventures9830 tf you on about you piece of dirt
@@jmadventures9830 if you went through what they did, are you so confident that you wouldn’t feel like that’s the only way out also? Disgusting
@@forpspeakingclass4444 nah, murder is wrong fool
I believe Eric and Lyle Menendez. This case needs revisiting in light of new understandings about the devastating consequences of childhood sexual abuse and incest.
I hate that they call it sex rather than what it was. Rape.
In my humble opinion, they use the word $ex because the defendant would be more comfortable than calling it r@pe.
@@sana_the_bookaholic you very well could be right. Thanks for the insight.
@@therealdeal3672 you're welcome my friend. I hope you have a great day/ night 😊
If they were female they would not of been sent to prison
@@angelahambley6066 if they were women, nobody would've doubted the abuse testimony. But, murder is murder. They deserved prison time, it's just that the verdict should've been manslaughter and not first degree murder. 15-20 years were enough, life without parole is really unfair. Now they should be set free because they clearly aren't a threat to anyone. Also, lyle and erik love each other very much and they remained separated for almost 22 years!! I believe that itself is enough punishment for them 😭😭
Poor kids they deserve justice!!
You are right! Justice has not been served in this case. My heart is so sad for Eric. José needed killin'. Kitty, too, because she knew and did nothing.
Totally agree with you! 😥
@@therealdeal3672 And I have heard that Kitty sexually abused them too but they liked that compared to what happened with their dad they would fight over who got to sleep in her bed when their dad was away on business. I dunno if that was a fake story though I don't remember where I heard it.
@@gurutruecrimeguru1405 wow, I had not heard that part of the story. It sadly doesn't surprise me. Both parents were horrible. I'm sure that Lyle and Eric felt very controlled by both of them. And they were afraid for their lives based on Jose's violent predilections. Justice has not been done.
@Anna Marie somehow I missed your comment, earlier. Sounds like Kitty was just as bad as Jose. Really heartbreaking.
This poor kid is a hero for speaking the truth, not an easy thing to do for those most offended by the ones they love/loved...
Exactly. I kept thinking how strong they must have been to tell the truth. It's just heartbreaking.
@@majahaugen8870 Murder is wrong I agree, but you have to admit its not easy to disclose the abuse that society is not willing to listen to . And he did not disclose it for his own sake regarding sentencing , it is obvious he disclosed it for the sake of other like him going threw the same abuse right now and becoming murderess just as he did. That takes courage to do such a thing , most killers take it to there grave cause they dont want to ruin there image with society .
@@majahaugen8870 The Narcissism must be revealed to all .
The way he kept referring to him as dad. Shows he has respect and still considered him as dearly. Poor kids …
My mom said the same thing!!!
Indeed, they both were afraid of their parents.
Not really. He's just calling him dad because its what he called him. Dad bears no meaning for him
I'm astonished at how insensitive these people were towards him. How can you look a victim in the eye during trial, after hearing their story and reasoning, and still have the audacity to ask what drove them to do what they did?? If the Menendez brothers were women, I can guarantee they wouldn't be in prison right now.
📠📠📠📠
Because they're asking 'for the record'. I study law and there's rarely a lot of empathy unless the person on the stand is a minor or crying so hard they're unable to answer. They need to ask 'harsh' or 'rude' questions, sometimes repeatedly, to build the case. That's all. Same for women.
So true isn’t it?
There are plenty of woman in prison for murdering their rapist.
@@jaymorgan8013 And out of the ones in prison, there are plenty more who haven't faced any jail time at all
Poor guy all the questions were simply pure hell. You can hear the fear in his voice and overall super anxious. Truly Hope Lyle and Eric get another chance.
Not!
Aren’t they due to get out? I was just reading something about this.
@@Stargazergirl104 no. Never.
This case is the perfect example of sheer injustice and open bias! There were so many proofs and witnesses which were not even allowed in the second trial. Anyone who says that the abuse testimony is a straightforward lie either hasn't done proper research or doesn't have a beating heart inside of them! Destiny has been so unfair to both these men. They always suffered and never got any chance to experience a peaceful and happy life. 31 years is more than enough, they should be released now!!
I didn’t believe any of it. They allowed a ton of hearsay in the first trial that wasn’t fair to the victims. If there was so much evidence, they could’ve had the parents arrested. The parents may have been found guilty and went to prison. But then the killers would be broke. If everything they claimed were true, don’t they still need to be removed from society? If blasting people to pieces with a shotgun is how they deal with stress, trauma and abuse, that’s dangerous. You’re going to go through some serious things in life. You can’t just murder someone because they did you wrong. What you call suffering, I call privilege. Ivy League schools, private tennis lessons and coaches, luxury vehicles and vacations. Lyle was away at Princeton, because of his father’s connections. The father bailed them out of jail and made sure they didn’t go to prison. They were breaking in houses, stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and valuable items. They couldn’t even hold jobs in their father’s own company. The other employees were complaining about special treatment because anyone else would be fired for such performance. They were away from the house for days before the murders. They could have simply not come back. Lyle was due back at Princeton shortly. They used the cars and money provided by their parents to buy the murder weapons. Dirty as hell. Why would you even want to inherit anything from people that abused you your whole life? Wouldn’t you want zero contact and just go your own way once you’re an adult? It doesn’t make sense. They spent millions immediately after the murders. They seemed to think that they deserved what their parents worked so hard for. It’s really sickening. They are a special sort of evil to do such a thing to the people that gave them life. So they should forfeit their own. What they did was totally unnecessary.
When Gypsy Rose killed her mom she was given only 10 years of jail time. But these two boys suffered so much and still are in prison 😢
Because she took a deal.
This trial was in the 90’s when ppl didn’t understand the psychological damage of grooming and abuse.
Also gypsy didn’t kill her mom, she hid in a different room while her bf did the actual murder. So easier to charge her with less or broker a deal
@@stonecake313 And the guy that did the actual killing got a life sentence so the point is rather moot.
This was double murder
Gypsy didn't kill her mom she plotted it and then took a deal to ensure the killer got life with her testimony.
Even just watching their testimonies I feel so protective of them, like when the judge pretty much yells at Erik to "speak up" I just want to jump through the screen and smack the shit out of him fr
Lmao same many people treat both of them that way
Abuse of privilege....
Disgraceful to say the least.
Have you seen the trial of Tammy moorer? It takes place in horry county South Carolina. It truly is a crime Judge Dennis and that good ole boy shite going on down there. I couldn't believe my eyes.
Its a fascinating case though. Her and her coward of a husband got 30 years on down to the minute circumstantial evidene along for the kidnapping and conspiracy to kidnap Heather Elvis from the Peachtree landing. there were rumors that Heather was pregnant by the husband and Tammy the cycle wife went nuts and they followed their digital footprint of them stalking and actually hunting this young girl out.
Right that was uncalled for .. that old bastard judge .. nasty man
Judge probably a peado
This shows how much times have changed! I have a huge feeling if this was today this trial would have ended a lot differently!
His dad was really sick. And one thing he may have forgotten to mention, or maybe I just overlooked, was the fact that his dad was a corporate executive for the entertainment industry and we all know what those kinds of men are like.
So sad. I think the father also managed this Puerto Rican boy band in which a documentary was released last month detailing the r*pe and abuse they endured by grown men from as young of the age of 11
Sick people...those Boys never deserve Life sentence...I'm hoping one day someone will emerge and tell the truth about this sick Dad.
@@TK67162 agreed.
Yup 🍕
@@ellafacebooktruecrimecases3644 100%
I completely see that he's a victim and not lying, when many people thought he was. This case is completely heartbreaking for me. When you're a victim of sexual abuse, it damages you. This is why I wanted to watch it. I was curious and halfway through watching it, I cried. I'm a victim myself and my heart breaks for both of these men. He was so brave speaking openly about this, I know it's hard for him though. Many people have commented in the past how they thought him smiling was evil, but yet they don't understand it's a coping mechanism. I talked openly about my abuse myself, and smiled and nobody quite understood it. This case is completely heartbreaking, they both need to be free. "I just wanted it to stop." 😢
These poor boys did whatever they had to do to cope with living in the nightmare they were living, Im surprised they turned out as articulate and soft spoken as they are
@@kellycismoski5098😅😅😅😅😅😅They are very good actors
I think smiling is because it’s uncomfortable
@@bford5899you can hear the pain in his voice. He can barely get the words out because he’s clearly traumatized.
And such deep trauma is very difficult to talk about. You can’t just assume they should’ve been comfortable enough to trust their therapist and talk about this immediately. When you’re being abused like that you don’t trust anyone. This is his testimony and he’s saying his truth, even though it’s extremely painful.
I hope you’re ok now. It’s not easy. My best wishes for you
It’s been 31 years. If any two people deserved to be released from prison it’s these two brothers. They’ve served more than enough time to pay for their crimes!! Shame on the media portraying them as heartless money hungry spoiled brats… couldn’t have been further from the truth. There has to be a way to get them released. Pedophiles that do horrific things and murder innocent babies get lesser sentences.
Absolutely
People like Casey Anthony need to trade places with them.
Exactly so sick of peds getting little to no time in prison while these boys went thru hell with living with nothing but abuse there entire lives to say they did it for money is just disgusting they had money already.. truly heartbreaking 😢
@@whitneyulmerwhat money? Their parents had money. They barely got through school.
I’m sure everybody has noticed how not one person from the justice system has taken the lead to get these two victims released from prison!! Sure, almost everybody who knows anything about this case feels strongly that Erik and Lyle have served more than enough time, but the very people who are supposed to be leaders in the justice machine have not said a word about freeing them. It’s disgusting.
there's no way they are acting :(
30:56 he didn't want to talk about it yet he was made. It's so horrible. No one wants to relive those horrible moments of their life. The
recalling of trauma and torture is also very traumatic for a person. How court ignored this is so disgusting and shameful.
It's court bro it's really heartbreaking and it seems that the lawyers have no empathy, but you have to.
I think it's a defence strategy at times. Makes us and the jury feel extra sorry for them.
But yes the whole case is sickening. Having 2 repulsive parents like that. Horrific.
@@annabellejane6686 why would it be the defenses strategy ?
This cause is so disturbing...I can't imagine what they felt. They deserve justice.
No serial killer got as harsh punishment as the Menendez brothers. They were raped and abused since they were little kids. They just wanted to finally end that hell. FREE THEM, THEY ARE VICTIMS! GIVE THEM THEIR JUSTICE AND FREEDOM THEY DESERVE SM!!!
ummm the death penalty?
Ted bundy did and some others too. But these two were abused, molested, raped. They don't deserve death penalty. Ted killed so many women by hate and rage. They killed their parents because of the hell they were put through. It is completely different.
@Zoë Monet that's better than living in prison for defending yourself
I've never wanted to hug someone more in my life.. Watching this was torturous.
They've been through hell and back, and the fact that they're still going through it is killing me.
I’m so sorry that he had to go through this testimony this way.
Some of this woman's questions are unbelievably cold.
That’s her job. She has asked valid questions so that the jury understands. She has professional because that is how defense attorney are supposed to behave.
@@kaylinwhite6584 She knows he has an auditory comprehension problem, yet she repeatedly gets snippy if she has to repeat or if he doesn’t understand the question. And he had to process hours of this intense questioning plus her irritation at him. Just awful.
@@drhyshek she literally laughed and said “you didn’t understand the question did you? Are you trying to understand it?” The laughing was so unnecessary😔😠
@@mariahv7502 exactly, and she was supposed to be on his side.
@@drhyshek Look she’s not his therapist. She his defense attorney. She’s not supposed to coddle him. That’s not professional at all in a courtroom. She was scolded for it by the judge. If you don’t like that then I suggest that you don’t become a defense attorney since there are certain rules that have to abided by point blank period.
The judge seems so inappropriate. Commanding Erik to “speak up!” as he’s detailing this father’s sexual abuse and how it affected him. Also he seems really biased against the defense.
56:17 If you pay attention to Eric's answer to the question asked, his reaction and facial expression, I think it's easy to understand why they killed their parents, and it will be easier to empathize. I really feel sorry for them even if they didn't do the right thing. No one deserves such an unfortunate life and childhood.
@@cindybrockman100 Sociopaths would not make up such self depricating lies. And sociopathy is a result of trauma/neglect/abuse anyways. There is absolutely no motive to lie.
@@34XOR - absolutely I will do the same as they did !
@@cindybrockman100 are you mentally stable? rewatch the interview again and focus on the body language and their voices. these boys are victims and deserved to be sent to therapy. not a life sentence.
@@cindybrockman100 Seek help. Your mindset is that of how old boomers think
what they went through is horrific, the mother was just as bad as the father and equally culpable
I still cant believe the injustice that these brothers went through
💔💔💔
No worse betrayal than a mother allowing it and diminishing it.
A lot of us know how that feels & you never get past it.
For some reason you can almost forgive the men who do it because they're out of control sexually, but when a mother ignores it, it's hard to feel warm toward her years later.
What these guys went through is horrendous though, just brutal.
💯
she didn't ignore it. She was part of it. She asked her son so many times to get naked to "examine" him. Both were sick
I don't disagree with that.@@hopea998
Maybe leave out the part about almost forgiving the men who abuse
Yes! @@leahflower9924
Seems like playing tennis was something he was really proud of. His face lights up a little when he spoke about tennis. You see passion right there.
I just came upon this case in one of the bloggers, and man I felt so sad for these guys. I really wish they could get their justice. Noone could fake that naked hurt emotion Eric had while recalling the abuse.
Imagine having your own dad put a knife against your throat because you won’t have s3x with him..so heartbreaking these boys deserve so much better!💔❤️
You can really tell a lot of the pain and trauma and stress was normal to him. His lawyer tried to make him explain how the father dictated his whole life which is awful but he just strugged because that was his whole life.
Especially the part about the father. It's so clear to him that he could never question his father, but to people who were never abused, they wouldn't get that
Erik is today 51 years old, Lyle is today 53 years old.
These men have had no life, only torture.
Between 6 and 8, Jose Menendez began molesting Lyle between the ages of 6 and 8 years old.
Erik, the younger brother, was molested from 6 years old. He hadn’t even formed more than a handful of permanent memories before this age.
Jose Menendez continued to systematically molest and rape Erik until the day that Erik killed him through self-defence.
Their mother, Kitty Menendez was a Benzo addict, an alcoholic, completely co-dependent on her husband Jose, also a victim of his, who then became another perpetrator. She lacked all maternal instinct, or drowned it all out with substances and Jose’s abuse. She wouldn’t protect or believe her sons, nourish their emotional needs, nothing. All she did was enable her husband to further abuse their children, a force of terror together.
Both of the boys grew up in a home with all the money in the world, and zero love, safety, or tenderness. Their father Jose Menendez was a tyrant who verbally, emotionally, physically abused and controlled his children at every end and turn.
He would take his boys few sources of happiness and escape in the world, and use it as a source of punishment and fear to terrorise them.
I wept when I heard Erik talk about the tournaments he played, he lit up talking about tennis and travelling to the tournaments, even though his parents were there and abusing him at the same time, he found some moments of happiness and pride there.
Erik especially never had a life. Erik was 6 years old when his father began molesting and raping him. His entire understanding of sex and sexuality was horror, multiple times a week rape and abuse over 12 years which only ended because he ended his parents life in self defence.
Erik had disclosed his sexual abuse several times as a child.
The people he told didn’t believe him, or couldn’t help him because they were also children.
Now, they are in their early fifties. Still living with their trauma every moment of the day. In a prison. They will never leave until they die, out the back in a body bag, in a paupers grave.
We failed them, because they are male victims of male, incest sexual abuse from an extremely wealthy and privileged family.
You're cutting Kitty a lot of slack. She was disgusting. Wouldn't feed the boys as toddlers, didn't care when they got lost at the mall (and kept shopping when security called her), and told multiple family members she hated the boys and they'd ruined her life.
Absolutely agree. Her, just like my own mother allowed all the abuse happen. Her role as a mother was to take the kids and leave, she had money my mother didn’t (mine used this as an excuse). She should be guilty, but you won’t sentence a dead body. She failed her 2 children she carried in her own body, it is beyond my comprehension that a woman can do that, that my mother did that too. I asked my mother to leave my dad after he tried to choke me in the snow outside and only stopped because our dog attacked him and bit his face and arm seriously to protect me. I ran. Next day I have my mother an option to choose me or him. She chose him. She stayed and out me through another 7 years of daily physical and emotional abuse. I do understand these boys and they have all my support, if only I could help them in any way.
I hope they will get to be free one day, praying for them to live at least 1day in freedom and happiness.
This is just sad
I don’t understand how on earth the jury could send these boys to prison after listening to all this.....? 🤷♀️
Tbf this jury didn’t. They were a Hung jury here. The second trial, where the judge limited the abuse talk and said they couldn’t use imperfect self defense is the trial that they got convicted. It was a very different trial because of Weisberg’s instructions of what was and was not allowed in.
@@sanaishere18that is so unfair
I feel so terrible for both brothers having to endure a life with all that abuse just to be prisoners again. It's not fair, they need to be released asap!
Thank you for showing all these old trials!
She fought for them like she was their mom. She truly cared about them, especially Eric. The abuse he had to endure his whole life was AWFUL.
She was the perfect attorney for this case - absolutely FIERCE during this trial ….anyone would feel safe and reassured having her in their corner, even out of court, i’m sure..
For sure!!!!
She is a freaking queen
They deserve to be in jail they are very liears and very good actors
@@mignonette7I'm in the same boat I feel like they were spoiled brats who didn't get their way and killed their parents and then came to court with fake molestation accusations paired with really good acting from years at acting school.
@@mattrose11234Roy Roselle from boy band Menudo came forward with allegations of Jose Menendez raping him when Edgardo Diaz brought him over to Jose’s house. At the time Jose Menendez was the director of RCA records. Menudo members are also alleging that Edgardo Diaz raped them.
This has to be excruciating for him to go over these things. I’ll never understand how they were convicted. They should have been given counseling. I sure hope they received counseling in prison. This is horrible what the parents put these two through.
Those men need to be released now
Erick haven't seen Lyle since the 1995 interview
@@Frenchkiddingthey are now in the same prison
One of the brother leads counseling for SA victims in prison
Thanks for putting this up, in the UK this case wasn’t discussed much. I believe Eric’s testimony and feel sad what he went through.
It was all over the news here at the time,,I watched it all from England . I was about 19 then. I think it was around the same time as the OJ trial.
To live with so much pressure and unbelievable expectations from their monster parents, not to mention being sexually abused all the time, by your father, no less. My heart breaks for these brothers.
Honestly man this is the first time I’ve ever cried over a video tbh they deserve better
56:06 you can literally see the disbelief and confusion in his face that this woman has the audacity to ask that stupid question
the hell with her!
I get what you’re saying, but that’s his lawyer asking the questions. She’s amazing. She has too ask those types of questions no matter how obvious the answer will be. The lawyer (Leslie abramson) and Erik are extremely close. She said she wished she could’ve raised Erik and be his mother❤️
It’s so heartbreaking when the juries wouldn’t wait for him to answer while he was physically struggling to get the word molestation out :/ and they wouldn’t believe him. These poor boys😭😭😭
I know witnesses are coached before court day; but these brothers seemed sincere and consistent. I cant look at either of them without tearing up. Their parents betrayed them and the state betrayed them as well
And this was after years in jail. Imagine when they were younger.
THESE GUYS were found guilty but OJ was found not guilty??? Anyone involved in locking them up and letting him off should be ASHAMED of themselves. Lyle and Eric are so obviously victims and were treated like dog crap...even the judge is a jerk to the defense. OJ was so obviously guilty and that judge was a joke too. What a tragedy of justice in both cases. Let these guys go. They deserve some happiness in this lifetime, free of abuse and free from bars. God bless them❤
The father is a toxic existence to anyone near him.
From all the cases on the internet this case is not only most hurtful because of the betrayal from their father but heartbreaking because of the injustice done by the legal system.
Let them out now. WTF?! I cannot believe these victims are still in prison.
Erik and Lyle’s testimonies were so triggering for me. I also had to swim and play tennis competitively while growing up. My dad also “trained” me with physical and emotional abuse. He had overly high expectations for my performance. I wasn’t that talented. He constantly berated me & made me feel worthless. He would beat me and yell at me while forcing me to exercise until all hours of the night. It was impossible to perform well at tournaments and meets- i was riddled with anxiety, had poor self esteem and had chronic ptsd from living in a constant state of fear/flight-or-fight. Nothing I ever did was good enough. Sometimes he would beat me before races to “fire me up” to “perform well”. then if I did well, he would take credit and tell me that I couldn’t have done well if he hadn’t done that. Standing up to him was never an option.
In adulthood, I found solace in drugs, alcohol, and self harm. Now, decades later, i am sober in recovery& healing more spiritually every day. I thank God every day that there was no sexual abuse. I can’t imagine what these boys went through. they finally stood up for themselves and this is what happened.
Ironically, my father went through something very similar and accidentally killed his father when standing up to him for the first time ever. luckily, he was not charged with murder but he’s emotionally tortured every day bc of what happened. He didn’t want to kill his father- he just wanted the abuse to stop. Talk about generational trauma. It ends with me! I will never strike my children.
God bless you!❤
Most people take years, if ever to disclose sexual abuse. Imagine having it dragged out of you in court in front of the world ! If it's true , horrific for them.
The fact that they’re in prison makes me sick. FREE THESE MEN
It's not uncommon for victims to blame themselves for why the abuse continues but it's NOT their fault. Children don't know that it's wrong until they get older. Especially when they are told by the abuser when they are a child that they love them. They associate love with abuse. It's so evil and so physiologically and emotionally damaging.
How these two survived their childhood, then not believed in court and still locked up is just horrific. We as humans can treat others terribly. Let them out of jail. They will have a lot to offer society with their experiences and give the human race some valuable lessons.
I just watched the documentary on Peacock and one of them helps other sexual abuse guys in prison.
They both said that life in prison was great compared to what they were living in.
I don't know when that was said, but it was mentioned.
Amen.
Why not just move out? They were grown men. Go live your own life. That's why they got convicted. Why are you enjoying the money, home, cars of your abusers after you killed them? They partied and had a great time. They wanted the parents money.
@@bford5899They were literally 6 years old when it started. What is wrong with you?
@@casmihok2962 they weren’t six years old when they committed two shotgun murders upon the people that gave them life. What’s wrong with you? They had luxury vehicles provided by their parents and drove the whole coast of California shopping for murder weapons with their parents’ money. They had been away from the house, supposedly for the last four days before the murders. Why not just ride out into the sunset? Lyle was due back at Princeton, where his father got him into. Take your brother and go. They were grown men.
Lyle is the best brother anyone could have. They both stopped monsters. I can’t imagine how much they suffer throughout their lives.
He didn't help his brother, though. They're both locked up. Why not bring his brother to Jersey with him? There was so many different options.
@@bford5899 They would never have been free. The father would never have gambled in turning them loose, and away from his control. The father would never have had a day of peace, knowing the boys would tell it all one day. He would have scheduled for the boys fatal accidents. The boys knew that.
@@ritagamez3732 this is why the abuse excuse never made sense to me. If what they were saying was true, things would have been closer to what you described. But the parents financed Lyle going to Princeton in New Jersey, clear across the country. He got in because his dad pulled strings to get him in there. Erik wanted to go to ucla. They drove the whole coast of California shopping for murder weapons in luxury vehicles with their parents’ money in their pockets. They were gone all day and claimed to have not been home for days before the murders. They were free to leave and should have done so. What they did was totally unjustified. They were both massive screw ups who were always being bailed out by their dad. There was plenty of evidence to support this. Erik admitted his mother told him their dad was cutting them off and they would have to support themselves plus be out of the will. These men murdered their parents for their money. They entered therapy to get out of jail time and never mentioned any abuse. Why not? Even during the taped confessions, they never mentioned any abuses. They said they were tired of their father controlling their lives. He was trying to make them responsible men who would inherit his company, but they were getting arrested and kicked out of school. They deserve to rot for what they did. They had plenty of better options. They chose to take two lives so they should surrender two lives. They wanted their parents dead, they made it happen. Now they must pay the cost
@@bford5899imagine being raped by your dad your entire life and emotionally abused and controlled by him. Your rationale between right and wrong is completely screwed up. Trauma affects people’s psyche. They acted out because they were angry and wanted it to end. One of the expert witnesses said that abused people sometimes over react due to being constantly placed in a state of fight or flight. Clearly since their finances were shared with their family and they had the equipment to lead a good life with or without dad, this was NOT a financial gain incentivized killing. It was them being sick and fed up of this disgusting man treating his sons like sex toys and objects to physically abuse.
Good lord, this father was so controlling! How they made it this far is unbelievable!
If his father hadn't gotten greedy and left him alone, after Eric went to college, all this abuse would have been like it had never happened. There are so many abuses that have not appeared that those that have emerged are not even one thousandth of those that have not.
@@zeynepgulsu1899 gotten greedy 🤔.... TF. Smh.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂Don't believe a liar
Is it just me or when he said he hated the idea of living at home when he finally had the chance to get away from his sexually / mentally and physically abusive father and saying that he couldn't accept the fact his father wanted him being home it was kinda dumb of her to ask why.
You are definitely not the only one that was definitely a dumb question like she is snapping and being rude and belittling him the whole time
Well, at least the parents are burning in hell where they belong.
It’s literally by Gods grace these boys didn’t become hateful mean bitter spirited human beings!! Bless their hearts 😢
The judge was a Lil condescending when his voice would crack or he would whisper because what he said about painful horrible memories he has to relive. These men's father and mother were going to continue the abuse even as adults. Their parents wanted to control their childrens' lives and keep them segregated so they didn't share the abuse with anyone, including friends or significant others! His father wanted to abuse him till his grave. He couldn't impregnate his sons so the control was absolute. These boys were scared and hurting and no one seemed to care or help. Especially their mother. Their parents were monsters.
His father would have had them killed eventually I'm certain as he would have been terrified that his horrible crimes would be exposed if the boys got out and told on him.
Parents are two evil narcissists ! Sorry for those two brothers !
You can’t diagnose people you’ve never met lol
@@riverogue13 no, really, they sound just so great... 🙄
@@riverogue13 there is a lot of evidence to make that claim
"Yeah, I used to stand behind Lyle a lot. That's pretty much my fixed position" 😪
These brothers should never have gone to jail. Shame on the people that sent them. To have suffered from the abuse and then punished, it breaks my heart.
The justice system completely failed these boys.
Justice for the Menendez brothers. The Justice system jas failed these Brothers honestly.
It's Sad
This is breaking my heart! Erik is a sensitive soul! Sensitive people are quite emotional, nothing wrong with that, that's who we are! Seriously, as much as he tried to control it and hide it, you can't hide who you inherently are. His father tried to abuse his sensitivity out of him! That's totally brutal! 😥😥
Erik and Lyle were two wonderful young men their lives were cut short they should be released and given the right support to adjust to freedom and know true love and happiness their whole lives was a prison sentence
I'm a "feeler" as well. I always have been very sensitive and emotional, my stepmom always told me I wore my heart on my sleeve. Hearing all this broke my heart for these poor guys. How devastating it must have been to have no one to turn too. How painful to have to take those deadly shots at someone you love and hate at the same time. Their minds had to be a chaotic mess, how this wasn't self defense will always be beyond me.
both, he and his brother spent their childhood being raped by their sadistic father. Then they spent their adult life in prison. It is time to release them and let them live for god's sake. I know there are fathers like that. I knew a girl, whose mother has passed away when she was a child. As she grown up with her father, he started to rape her at the age of 17 and kept doing it for years and years until she was in her mid 20's. Then she finally ran away with her boyfriend. There are some fucked up people.
They've been in prison for 31 years now
Imagine what toll must have that taken on their psyche and they would have undergone even more trauma. It's so so so unfair. Anyone and everyone involved in putting them into prison must also be held accountable for their actions.
It’s really horrible to know there are parents out there that abuse their own children. What I don’t understand is why is it hard for people to believe men can be raped too?. That is why is so hard for men to come forward and speak up. Their credibility is questioned and even kinda laughed at. It’s so sad 😞
💯💯
I feel for these men🥺 They’ve been through so much mental and physical abuse. They need help healing, not punishment.
Imagine being controlled and constantly hurt since birth (by ones who are expected to do the opposite), then knowing just how sick it is, then knowing it's gonna kill you (and your sibling) if you don't pull the trigger first. So you pull the trigger first and wind up being forced to be somewhere just as controlling and hurtful... and all before you're 25😢😔
Yep. That's what devastates me. I hope with this new evidence the state can motivate and let them out. It's not like they're going to reoffend, or commit new crimes. In fact they could definitely help other boys who've gone through this heal and make better choices.
It must have been bad if they chose a life in prison over living with the parents abuse any longer .
I believe them, along with the witnesses testimonies. The parents were vile monsters.. 😠
“Why didn’t you want them (friends) to know that you were a boy having sex with your father”. Is she for real asking that question?...... he’s not going fishing with his dad, his father is molesting him. Of course you don’t want people to know that. And when she says he’s having sex with his father, she is implying that’s it’s consensual, well it’s not. These boys were being molested and raped. She is a horrible woman and I hate how she snaps at him as he is recalling the worst events in his life. He even had a hard time looking at the (naked) photos of himself that his horrible dad took of him. I feel so terrible for these boys. Breaks my heart listening what they had to go through. How did they put them in jail? Theses boys were so wronged in every sense of the word. His evil parents deserved to die
That’s what I’m saying!!! She’s honestly quite belittling to them and their experience, and he questions seriously show that
Yes!! I was thinking this as well! And this is his own attorney! She was so sharp and nasty. Such a difference from Lyle's attorney. I wish she treated him with a shred of respect like Lyle's did for him.
My god this lady is a c*nt.
Agreed. It was molestation and abuse, not consenual. Truly sick how this was handled.
That is his defense attorney. Some of the questions she was asking were cold but that’s her job. Also they say sexual activity bc rape is a trigger word for Eric. I am not 100% sure on the last thing but that’s what I heard
The INTENSE pain these boys have to relive is so evident...How traumatic for both of them
This is absolutely heartbreaking. I just want to hold Erik and allow him to release all that built-up emotion. They have survived enough time. I want to see them released. These days we understand abuse so much more. My heart goes out to them.
First trial I ever watched on Court TV, back in the early 1990's when I was a young guy working night shift and they broadcast the trials around the clock. I just got hooked during late night editions, and have watched more trials on this channel than I can say. So glad they came back after those years when they were down.
Look at Erik, see it is hard for him to talk about his molestation. Lyle and Erik should be free now. So sad and it hurt me so bad….❤️🥺🥺 I wish I can hug and conforming them
Same here I hope they get parole one day😔
@@abbyh7773 yeah I mean they been through hell and it has been 32 years (August 20,1989) come on now….🥺🥺
@@hazeldelacruz7575 yeah I think about how they feel a lot, I saw on a news video that they are finally in the same prison so at least they can see each other.
He couldn’t even look at the picture of him at 38:07 this father was seriously just sick and the mother was just as awful yelling at them telling them she wished they were never born and they ruined her life and she hated them . Absolutely sick parents
They deserved justice the day they entered the court!!’ FREE THE VICTIMS
What “justice”. The parents are already dead. They faced the consequences of their actions like every other murder.
@@kaylinwhite6584 If you were raped for years by the person you should trust the most, would you be able to talk like that?
@@zeynepgulsu1899 No. But resorting shouldn’t even be considered at an option. My point still stands. No excuse for this.
@@kaylinwhite6584 is there an excuse for what their parents did? I'm not saying they deserved death, but young boys psychology was gone, they were destroyed beyond repair, and they could have killed themselves. if that happened would their parents be responsible for dragging their children to death?
@@zeynepgulsu1899 Nobody is condoning what the allegedly did. But the brothers should have reported it the police instead of murdering them. They have ruined their own live with their actions.
Death was too easy for the parents. These men have been abused and miss treated and disgraced by their parents and the so call justice system. I feel they have suffered long enough. FREE THEM
Can you imagine, the mother was actually jealous because her husband wanted to screw his own sons over their mother so she wanted them gone, instead of once thinking of how much they were suffering. Poor Erik and Lyle unbelievable.
During the advanced part of my training in becoming a Psychodrama director (a form of group therapy where you create a scene, a trauma, usually from the past, and take on different roles with the aid of other group members, I won't dig in to it further). I often was chosen to be "the mother" (it does happen that mothers are the offenders but usually it's a male). And every single time, when I was the "mother", I had to re-assure the child, the victim that he/she had no responsability what so ever. It may seem absurd watching it from the outside, that a child, or teenager for that matter, would feel guilt when being abused, but they have a tendency to think that they had more power than they had "I should have stopped it!". They don't see themselves as a young child, maybe they even felt arousal at some point - or had advantages in regards to their siblings "Well, Dad and I have a special bond". Often the abuser uses that "You're special to me - this is OUR secret." If you're longing for love, for approval things gets confusing. "Maybe this is what I have to do to be loved." I've had grown ups in my lap (a German psychiatrist in his late 60's even - he can't be identified this was a long time ago), doing what the mother (of father!) should have done. Saying "I should have protected you - and I'm so sorry. This was my responsability, not yours". To you whom recognizes this.The shame, the guilt is never e v e r yours! It doesn't matter what you did or didn't do - somebody else should have protected you!
In this case, once Erik was a teenager, he was ONLY ever raped when he had "failed" in some way: losing a tennis match, failing a class (and he was dyslexic!), or talking back/having an attitude. So it wouldn't have just been a subconscious process--the father ensured Erik thought it was only happening because he was a huge failure
Thank you for sharing this! ❤️❤️❤️
If any of you want to help or fight the injustice of this case - look up the office or mailing address for the Governor of California (Mr. Gavin Newsom) and respectfully write to him. He and he alone has the powder to recall the case!! Let us help free these men, from their long life of suffering!!
Imagine them walking free, happy and feeling loved!! I believe they will if we all do our part! ✨❤️
I'm definitely writing to him.
Thank you!
so disturbing yet u easily sympathise with the bros ... ❤️ i hope someday they will get the peace of mind hey deserve . u can see there's that "little'' boy in them that needed love and cuddle from their parents ..sending ❤️❤️❤️ to these 'lost' souls
the justice system failed the menendez brothers. to go from a prisoner in your own home by your own parents to a prisoner of the law is revolting.
Eric is so beautiful. 🥺 I cried when he struggled
To talk about this. My family member went through the same, and when he was older he saw his abuser holding a little boys hand walking in town and saved his life! He set up his abuser with C3I on the phone and he apologized for what he did to him and admitted to everything. He was abusing the boy he saw holding his hand the boy testified against him aswell. He went to prison and died of cancer in prison. I wish they could’ve done the same 😢 they deserved a normal life. Imagine taking the lives of the people who took yours and still not having a life.
Your family member didn't shoot that person with a shotgun. He got the guy locked up. These two should've thought of that. But they somehow thought they would have a life outside of prison after killing their parents?
Seeing this as an adult now (I was a kid when this happened) makes me so so angry. The way the media portrayed them was absolutely biased. Erik was punted as a very manipulative young man. Looking at this interview now, I really get the feeling he is a traumatized person. How anyone could think its an act is beyond me? People don't get how hard it is, in the first place to admit to a SA to yourself. Second, to do it in front of strangers and third to say it out load. I fail to see how people thought he "acted" this all seems very real and very expected behavior.
I've been watching the whole trial and ended up quite invested in this case. I am appalled at how they were treated during the trial. I understand the job of a prosecution lawyer, but the level of belittling disrespect was just unreal. Kuriyama slipping in constant comments about how "they were shaking in their boots" about their parents... how is that even allowed?! The judge allowed them to be disrespected and belittled. It breaks my heart.
Not to be insensitive it’s very unfortunate if these young men experienced such a heinous act, however I find it odd they kill their parents shooting them with shotguns shortly after getting rid of the rifles then went to go see a movie all to create an alibi. Then they went on a 6 month spending spree. If not for the therapist they would’ve gotten away with murder Scott free. Seems odd to me. Prior to their actual court date investigators investigated for a year plus and all of a sudden they claim their parents molested them. This could be the reasons why people in the court treated them poorly. Many have been molested by parents or family members but they didn’t choose to execute their attackers. Think about that.
I forgot to add they purchased the rifles although their father already owned rifles, sounds pre meditated to me .
The judge was horrible. Unbelievable!
@@PrimordialBeing360 They feared that their parents would kill them. The brothers wanted to buy handguns, but didn't think they would be alive after the two-week waiting period. If they wanted to get away with it, they would have waited two weeks, as handguns are quieter than shotguns.
@@PrimordialBeing360I don’t think it was it was self defense it was a straight revenge killing, I believe they were abused (as one person put it there’s more evidence of abuse in this case than there is in 90% of abuse cases including telling there cousins years before and witness testimony of physical and mental abuse) but they planned and executed the killing it wasn’t spur of the moment, in their defense they had one of the better reasons you can have 😂 as for the spending spree, honestly they spent how rich kids spend, they bought some cars some watches and a condo to move to in the east coast not the craziest if i had that much would probably burn a lot more 😅 and none of the abuse coming out before the trial is pretty normal. Honestly, it takes a lot of a people years to admit even to their therapist, they were abused.
Dang I wish I was on this jury. This was justifiable homicide. They destroyed their kids…
This just was hung and the second much of this was not allowed in the next trial