Kim Kardashian has defended the Menendez brothers after paying them a visit in prison.
The reality TV star and model, 43, went to the jail where the convicted felons had been spending their sentence, and it appears she was particularly touched by their story. This came amid the massive wave of backlash that hit the brothers in the wake of a Netflix documentary about the brothers.
Titled Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”, the documentary followed the lives of the two brothers who killed their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989. Viewers watching the show were left horrified and spoke out against the pair, but in an interview with NBC News, Kim came to their defence, insisting “they are not monsters”.
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Lyle and Erik are resigned to spending the rest of their lives in jail after being convicted of killing their parents. Their defence in the case centred around claims they were being sexually abused by their father, which was not enough to convince the judge of their innocence.
(Image: Soqui Ted)
Since the trial, back in 1988 – the pair have spent 35 years so far behind bars. However, in an emotional essay Kim wrote after meeting the pair, she hoped that the decision could be overturned.
“With their case back in the spotlight — and considering the revelation of a 1988 letter from Erik to his cousin describing the abuse — my hope is that Erik and Lyle Menendez’s life sentences are reconsidered,” she penned. Kim, who has trained as a lawyer, argued that the sentence passed onto the brothers was too harsh for the circumstances.
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Though she did concede that the murders were “not excusable”, she said that the punishment was more akin to that of a serial killer rather than two individuals affected by sexual abuse. “Had this crime been committed and trialed today, I believe the outcome would have been dramatically different,” she said.
As well as this, Kim highlighted the fact that sexual abuse against men was far less heard of at the time of their trial, and was often influenced by prejudices and homophobia. She also pointed to their good behaviour inside prison itself, having “exemplary disciplinary records”.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
“When I visited the prison three weeks ago, one of the wardens told me he would feel comfortable having them as neighbours,” Kim carried on. “Twenty-four family members, including their parents’ siblings, have released statements fully supporting Lyle and Erik and have respectfully requested that the justice system free them.”
It comes after Los Angeles District Attorney District Attorney George Gascon revealed the brothers will get a court hearing in November after his office found new evidence allegedly supporting the claims Erik was sexually abused by his father. At a press conference, Gascon said his office would review the new evidence and make a decision on whether the case should be considered for resentencing.
During their time in prison, both Erik and Lyle have gone on to earn college degrees, as well as taking on community service deals such as giving care to some of the prison’s elderly residents. No statement has been offered by legal authorities in respect to their case.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
