Latest news with #parolehearing
Fox News
7 days ago
- Fox News
Menendez brothers score crucial legal victory in decades-long fight as they await potential freedom
As infamous killer brothers Erik and Lyle Mendendez wait for their August parole hearing, they have scored a legal victory on another front, this time in the form of new evidence they say could have led to their acquittal. The pair, who admitted to killing their parents, Mary "Kitty" and Jose Menendez, in a bloody 1989 shotgun massacre inside their Beverly Hills home, claimed for years that their actions were self-defense stemming from a lifetime of physical and sexual abuse. A July 8 court order obtained by Fox News Digital will force the state to explain why evidence to that effect was barred from their trial. About eight months before the double-homicide, Erik allegedly wrote a letter to his cousin, Andy Cano, claiming that Jose had sexually abused him and Lyle. Further, an affidavit from Roy Rossello, a member of a boy band called Menudo, claimed Jose, a record executive, raped him when he was a 14-year-old boy in 1983 or 1984. Rossello made the claim almost 40 years after the alleged rape. In March 2023, the brothers filed a habeas petition claiming that if they had been allowed to use the Cano letter as evidence, and if Rossello's claim had been made before and presented at their second trial, a jury would not have convicted them. In an informal response to that petition, filed by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman's office in February of this year, prosecutors denied that the letter and the affidavit constituted new evidence. They said that the Cano letter was "untimely." They also said the Rossello affidavit was "inadmissible, immaterial, and lacks credibility." But the July 8 order, handed down by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge William C. Ryan, said that the letter and the affidavit constitute a prima facie showing that the brothers are entitled to habeas relief. The district attorney's office is now subject to a "show cause" response in the next 30 days. In their response, Hochman's office must explain why the brothers' habeas relief should not be granted. The brothers sought a new trial in 2023, but have since shifted their focus to their own resentencing, which they were granted in May. Judge Michael Jesic resentenced the brothers to 50 years to life with the possibility of parole. They were previously serving life without parole. Since, the brothers have been eagerly awaiting that parole hearing. After it was initially scheduled for June 13, it was postponed until August 21 and 22. They have spent 35 years behind bars. READ THE FULL ORDER BELOW:
The Sun
19-06-2025
- The Sun
Evil dad abused my boy so badly he lost both his legs… but here's why I'd rather he be released from jail early
THE ADOPTIVE mum of a boy abused by his dad has revealed why she would rather he be released from prison early. Anthony Smith, 53, faces a parole hearing today which could see him freed early. 5 5 Smith and his partner Jody Simpson, 33, were both jailed for 10 years for the abuse of brave Tony, now 10. Simpson faced her parole hearing on May 19, and was cleared for release from prison - despite showing 'no remorse'. Now Tony's violent birth father is due to face his own hearing on June 19. But, Paula Hudgell, 57, who adopted Tony when he was just a baby, said she would almost rather the monster was released early license as he face would regular checks. This would not be the case if he reaches the end of his sentence in 2027 as he will face no conditions on his freedom. It means the evil abuser could change his identity, as he did several times before his trial, move wherever he wants and even come into contact with more children. Paula is now reiterating her plea to the government to introduce a child cruelty register, so monsters like Smith and Simpson will be tracked for the rest of their lives. She said: 'Ahead of Simpson's parole hearing I felt angry, just so angry, but for this one I am scared. 'I doubt he has shown a single shred of remorse, there will have been no rehabilitation, he will remain a terrifying, dangerous man and he could be coming out in a matter of weeks. 'This may sound horrible, but I'd almost rather he was released now - that way I know he'll be monitored, he'll be on license. Girl, 3, killed in 'human sacrifice by her mum to drive out spirits' 'But, if they deny his parole and push it back to the end of his sentence in August 2027 he will be released without any conditions at all. 'I am terrified he will change his name and just disappear, because at trial it was shown he was using a number of aliases. 'Smith and Simpson even disappeared while they were on bail and no one knew where they were, they both clearly know how to game the system, and what is to stop them doing it again? 'Some people say they're badly educated and didn't know better, some people even say their crimes aren't their fault because of that, but they are both clearly able to work the system. 'They both know exactly what to say to the authorities to get let out, they have legal representatives telling them how to comport themselves and so yet again, it is all about them and not about the victim - Tony. 'Smith will be free to hurt more children either this year or in a few years time all because there is no centralised register for child abusers. 'That's why I am urging MPs to listen to what we have to say - they may think we have a centralised system because that would make sense - but we don't. 'We need politicians to come together to protect children because otherwise monsters like Simpson and Smith and ones we haven't even heard of will be free to live their lives exactly how they want - putting more innocent kids at risk of harm or even death.' Smith was jailed in 2018 for 10 years after being convicted of causing or allowing a child to sustain an injury and neglect by failing to seek immediate medical attention Doctors discovered baby Tony had multiple catastrophic injuries to his tiny body - with both his birth parents failing to get him help before it was almost too late. The evil pair then waited 10 agonising days to get Tony the help he needed - with the tot almost dying due to infection. Both of his legs were amputated and the brave 10-year-old faces ongoing struggles due to the severity of the injuries inflicted on him. In June 2023, Smith launched an unsuccessful bid to be granted parole, with the Parole Board stating at the time he would not be released until 2027 - unless a suitable return to community arrangement was found. At the time, the Parole Board said: "Having considered the index offences, relevant patterns of previous offending and the other evidence before it, the panel listed as risk factors those influences which made it more likely that Mr Smith would reoffend. "At the time of his offending, these risk factors had included Mr Smith's chaotic life, his abuse of drugs and his use of alcohol. "He has acted recklessly and impulsively and has struggled to manage extreme emotions," the ruling continued. "The panel considered his relationships, isolation, boredom, poor decision making and an inability to deal with life's problems to be further areas of risk. Specifically, he has no concept of the responsibilities entailed in caring for a child." His former partner Simpson, Tony's birth mother, was released on license in February 2023, but was back in jail by May 2024 having breached her license by starting a relationship with a sex offender. The abuser was due to be automatically re-released earlier this year, but Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood stepped in – forcing Simpson to face a parole hearing on May 19. She will be released from prison in the coming weeks, with strict license conditions including reporting any new relationships to her probation officer, regular drug tests, a curfew and being fitted with a GPS tag. 5 5
