Overview

• Los Angeles Superior Court Judge William C. Ryan ruled the 2023 habeas petition failed because the cited evidence would not have swayed a jury or supported an imperfect self-defense instruction.
• The petition relied on a letter allegedly written by Erik Menendez to cousin Andy Cano in 1988–89 and on allegations from former Menudo member Roy Rosselló about abuse by José Menendez.
• The court found the material only slightly corroborative of abuse and not probative of imminent peril, while prosecutors stressed planning and premeditation, including shotgun purchases using false IDs and a preplanned alibi.
• District Attorney Nathan Hochman also argued the letter was not newly discovered and that the filing was untimely under habeas standards.
• The brothers were resentenced in May to 50 years to life and denied parole in August with three-year denials, leaving clemency as their primary near-term option as they consider possible appeals.