Attorneys for the Menendez brothers will appear in a Van Nuys court on Friday to get the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office kicked out of the brothers’ resentencing case.
The attorneys argued in the recusal motion that District Attorney Nathan Hochman is biased and that there would be a “conflict of interest” that would make it so that the brothers would likely not get a fair trial.
On May 2, the D.A.’s Office filed opposition to the motion.
“In the opposition, the District Attorney’s Office has argued that in a ‘drastic and desperate step,’ the defense has decided to ‘sidestep the central issue of resentencing’ and present an argument ‘devoid of merit’ to recuse the entire District Attorney’s Office,” a statement by Hochman read.
On Tuesday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta sided with Hochman, saying that “, the defendant must further show that disqualification of the District Attorney and his entire staff is the only remedy for the alleged conflict,” according to KCAL News.
Criminal defense attorney Lou Shapiro, who is not on the case, told KNX News’ Jon Baird he doesn't think the D.A. will get kicked out of the case.
“The reason why the judge is likely going to deny the motion is because he first will look to is there a more narrowly tailored remedy to the issue at hand rather than throwing out the whole DA's office,” he said.
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The Menendez brothers were convicted in 1996 for their parents’ 1989 murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. The brothers claimed self-defense and that their father had abused them.
In October 2024, then-District Attorney George Gascón filed the motion for resentencing for the brothers. The following month, he was defeated in the race for D.A.
Hochman has voiced his opposition to the brothers’ release, saying he the brothers should stay in prison until they come clean.
On April 17, the brothers’ bid for a shorter sentence and possible parole was delayed.
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