Menendez brothers resentencing updates: Judge once more delays bid for shorter sentence and potential parole

A judge has again delayed the resentencing hearing for Erik and Lyle Menendez after it began this morning in Los Angeles.

Judge Michael Jesic called for a pause until May 9. The delay comes after Jesic said the court needs to obtain partially-completed risk assessments on the brothers ordered by California Governor Gavin Newsom, the Associated Press reports.

Prosecutors have seen these partially-completed reports and want to use them, and called for a delay in the hearing so all parties can consider it. Neither Jesic nor defense attorney Mark Geragos has seen the documents.

Now Geragos says he’s calling for Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman to be removed from the case.

The pair were imprisoned for the double murder of their parents in their Beverly Hills home. In the decades since, they have gotten an education, participated in self-help classes and started various support groups for their fellow inmates – all behind bars.

Read more:

The attorneys have returned to the courtroom where the Menendez brothers’ resentencing hearing is being held, signaling this afternoon’s recess may come to an end soon.

Follow along for live updates from The Independent.

Defense attorney Mark Geragos says the graphic crime scene photos shown in court last week re-traumatized the Menendez family.

Prosecutors showed graphic images from the 1989 crime scene in court last week.

“He has abused the victims privately, he has abused the victims publicly,” Geragos said of Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman while speaking to reporters Thursday afternoon, according to Fox News.

“You were all here when they flashed grisly crime scene photos on the screen,” he continued. “It took me a second—normally it would be the DA who jumps up and objects to that. Instead, it fell upon the defense to do so.”

Prosecutor Habib Balian had apologized to the Menendez family for showing the photos but said it was necessary because the brothers had committed “extremely depraved conduct.”

Judge Michael Jesic then defended Balian and took responsibility for allowing the images to be shown in court without telling the family first.

Jesic added that those attending the hearing need to be prepared for more potentially graphic content.

The judge called a two-hour court recess today over a dispute between attorneys about part of a risk assessment report on the Menendez brothers released by California officials.

Defense attorney Mark Geragos called it “completely unfair,” and said the hearing can’t proceed until he has time to review the document.

The recess is set to end within the next few minutes, at 1:30 p.m. local time.

Defense attorney Mark Geragos says Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman has “jumped the shark” and expressed frustration with Hochman’s comments to reporters before the Menendez brothers’ resentencing hearing Thursday.

Geragos said he is “very close to filing a motion to recuse the District Attorney.” A motion to recuse involves asking the prosecution to be removed from the case due to alleged bias or conflict of interest.

“This is another in a series of the DA’s office abdicating their role,” Geragos told reporters during the court recess on Thursday afternoon, according to NBC News. “They have… will say it again, they have jumped the shark.”

The Netflix series, which featured 28-year-old Koch as Erik and 25-year-old Nicholas Chavez as Lyle, garnered renewed support for the brothers, who have been fighting for their release for the past 30 years.

Read more:

Before the two-hour recess, defense attorney Mark Geragos accused District Attorney Nathan Hochman of having a personal bias against the Menendez brothers and condemned him for showing graphic images from the 1989 crime scene in court last week.

Geragos claimed prosecutors violated Marsy’s Law — a law which protects victims’ rights in court — by showing the pictures.

Prosecutor Habib Balian apologized to the Menendez family for showing the photos but said it was necessary because the brothers had committed “extremely depraved conduct.”

Judge Michael Jesic then defended Balian and took responsibility for allowing the images to be shown in court without telling the family first.

Jesic added that those attending the hearing need to be prepared for more potentially graphic content.

“If anyone is uncomfortable they need to think about whether they should be here,” Jesic said.

Court is in recess until 1:30 p.m. local time, NBC News reports.

This comes after the judge says “no way” a decision will be made on the Menendez brothers’ resentencing by the end of the hearings Friday.