Overview

• Los Angeles Superior Court Judge William C. Ryan rejected the brothers’ 2023 petition, issuing a ruling Monday that closes off a key path to retrial.
• The judge wrote the proffered material was not particularly strong and would not have created reasonable doubt or supported an imperfect self‑defense instruction.
• Defense filings cited a letter allegedly written by Erik to a cousin describing abuse and a sworn statement from former Menudo member Roy Rosselló accusing José Menéndez of assault.
• District Attorney Nathan Hochman said the case hinged on self‑defense claims already rejected by jurors and repeatedly upheld on appeal, and his office opposes reopening the convictions.
• After a May resentencing to 50‑to‑life made them parole‑eligible, a state board denied release for both brothers in August; they can reapply in about three years, with gubernatorial clemency as another potential avenue.