Wildfires Delay Menendez Brothers’ Resentencing Hearing to March

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The resentencing hearing for Lyle and Erik Menendez, convicted in the 1989 murders of their parents, has been postponed to March 20-21 due to disruptions caused by recent wildfires in Los Angeles County, officials announced Friday.

The hearings, originally scheduled for Jan. 30-31, were delayed after wildfires impacted preparations for the case, according to a statement from District Attorney Nathan Hochman‘s office. “The continuance is due to the impact of recent wildfires on the parties’ extensive preparations for the hearings,” the statement read.

The Menendez brothers, who are serving life sentences, were convicted in 1996 for the shotgun killings of their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, at their Beverly Hills mansion. The case gained national attention for its sensational details, including allegations of abuse and a high-profile trial.

In October, former Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón recommended resentencing for the brothers, citing changes in state law and concerns about their original trial. Hochman, who defeated Gascón in the November election, has met with advocates supporting the resentencing effort.

The wildfires, which began on Jan. 7, have been among the most destructive in California history, displacing thousands and straining local resources. The delay marks another chapter in the long-running legal saga of the Menendez brothers, whose case continues to draw public interest.