‘Heavy stuff': Gavin Newsom discusses Menendez brothers case ahead of parole hearing
Newsom and Murphy discussed the lunch — and the controversial case — on the latest episode of the governor's podcast, 'This is Gavin Newsom.'
'You start talking to me about this and you all but said, 'I'm sorry,'' Newsom recalled on the 45-minute episode. He added, with a chuckle: 'I didn't fully appreciate how right you were to be sorry.'
'Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,' which premiered last September, put a spotlight yet again on the case of the two brothers, who were convicted of first-degree murder in 1996 and sentenced to life in prison for the 1989 shotgun deaths of their parents in the family's Beverly Hills mansion. In May, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge resentenced them to 50 years to life, making them eligible for parole. Their parole hearing is set for Aug. 21 and 22.
If the parole board recommends their release, Newsom will make the final decision on whether to grant them parole.
'That's heavy stuff,' Murphy said on the podcast episode.
'Heavy stuff,' Newsom replied.
The governor said he has been tempted repeatedly to watch the series, but he has purposely avoided it because the matter could soon land on his desk. 'I don't want to be persuaded by something that's not in the files,' Newsom said.
Murphy recalled that during the writing of the show, and even when he and Newsom had lunch, he was not convinced that the brothers deserved freedom, but his outlook evolved, he said, particularly after conversations with Kim Kardashian, a collaborator of Murphy's who watched the show before it was released. 'She was really obsessed with it and then went to visit them,' Murphy said.
The reality TV star, who completed her law studies in May, told Murphy she believed they deserved parole, stressing that both brothers were under the age of 25 at the time of the brutal killings. Studies show the prefrontal cortex, responsible for functions like planning, decision-making and impulse control, doesn't fully develop for men until their mid- to late 20s.
Murphy also cited the brothers' family support and positive behavior in prison.
'I guess it just begs the question: If not now, when?' Murphy asked. 'What benefit to society do we have by keeping them there if they can come out of prison and actually serve some good? I think that's a powerful thing.'
Newsom countered with the argument he said he's heard from others: 'What good can come from sending a message that you can kill both of your parents and be released?'
At the same time, Newsom said, other inmates have been granted parole for similar or worse crimes and spent less time in prison.
He noted that psychiatric evaluations and risk assessments are meant to determine suitability for parole based on what he called 'well-established' criteria, such as inmates' behavior in prison.
Newsom also discussed parole decisions he's made in the cases against convicted killers who were followers of cult leader Charles Manson, including Leslie Van Houten, who was released from prison on parole in 2023. Newsom had rejected her parole recommendation but was overruled by a state appeals court.
'The last rejection was overturned by the court that felt we were abusing our discretion in our parole office and they're tough,' Newsom said.
'It's a very slippery slope,' Murphy said, 'and it's a really hard road and I feel for you.'
He suggested Newsom watch the show over Labor Day weekend.
'I'm going to see if I made the right decision.' Newsom replied.
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