A Prisoner’s Take on the Menendez Brothers

The District Attorney of Los Angeles and his entire office is recommending that the Menendez brothers be resentenced, and if the judge agrees, one or both of them will be immediately eligible for parole. The DA of Los Angeles, his entire office, a number of famous celebrities (e.g., Rosie O’Donnell, Kim Kardashian), and whoever else is involved or has added their two pennies, believe that this is the right thing and that the Menendez brothers deserve a second look.

I’m not mad or jealous about that. I’d want for them what I’d want for myself. Absolute truth.

But, that being said, let’s take out the reason why the brothers claim they murdered both of their parents and the reason it appears a lot of people are saying these brothers deserve a second look. The fact still remains that they plotted to kill their parents. Not just plotted to murder two people, but followed through on it and executed their plans.

To the reason the brothers committed double murder: sexual abuse. I never personally followed the case, therefore unaware of the details. Just going off of what I’m seeing in the news. It doesn’t matter what I or anyone else thinks as to the reason being accepted as the court giving one a second look at freedom. At this moment, it only matters what the DA of Los Angeles thinks, as he is the one requesting the Menendez brothers be resentenced. Next, it will be up to the judge if he agrees or not.

This monumental moment should open the door to all the others that are in prisons for murdering their sexual abusers. Let’s not blur the lines, because at its base, this is exactly what is taking place. Sexual abuse or attack, doesn’t matter—nor should it—how long it went on for. If a person was sexually abused/assaulted and murders the person who did it to them, they should also be given a second look like the Menendez brothers.

Circling back to the premeditated part in the double murder of one’s parents. When this crime was first committed, everyone was appalled. Don’t lie, don’t pretend, that you weren’t. “They killed their parents for the money!” you thought. Be honest with yourself. And because they killed their parents, death penalty, life without parole was all that could satisfy the need for justice. Accepted, even understandable. It’s a very heinous crime. Not arguing that. Someone who plotted the murder of another person should suffer the consequences—incarceration, loss of their own life, some form of penalty. Again, won’t argue that.

But what has changed after all of these years so that these brothers should be giving back their original sentences and given a second look?

All of us who immediately judged them and wanted “justice,” how many of us now have a different stance on this? Why? Do we feel mercy? Or is it because we now see the prison system, and therefore the courts, as increasingly counterproductive? That incarceration policies are unjust and inefficient? Or maybe our stance is solely based on the sexual abuse allegations and thus accepted as justifiable reason to kill?

Those who don’t believe someone should be given a second look at freedom may have a love affair with lock and key. Shouldn’t we ensure that sentences reflect society’s evolving norms and knowledge? Maybe take a step toward redemption and away from a racist culture of perpetual punishment and revenge rooted in the politics of mass incarceration?

It would be a great discussion to be part of!

Gilbert Paliotta #46244
P.O. Box 650
HOSP
Indian Springs, NV 89070

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