Kim Kardashian has spoken out asking for the freedom of brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez, who were sentenced to life in prison for murdering their parents in 1989 when they were 21 and 18 years old.
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In a letter published in NBC News, Kim argued that the brothers are not monsters, emphasizing that we are all influenced by our experiences throughout life. Recently, the case was depicted in the series “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story“, from Netflix, which brought new attention to the event.
Kardashian argued that Lyle and Erik were victims of physical and emotional abuse by their parents from childhood. She criticized the trial for not considering this evidence, suggesting that the treatment of the case would have been different if the accused had been women.
“According to Lyle, the abuse started when he was just six years old, and Erik said he was [sexually abused] by their father for over a decade. After years of abuse and a real fear for their lives, Erik and Lyle chose what they thought at the time was their only way out: an unimaginable way to escape their nightmare […] Both brothers were previously tried before a jury, many of the abuse evidence was deemed inadmissible, and [the charge of] manslaughter was no longer an option. Some witnesses from the first trial were prevented from testifying about alleged abuse, depriving the jurors of crucial evidence. The prosecutor, having successfully argued to exclude the abuse testimony, mocked the brothers’ defense during their closing arguments for not presenting any evidence of abuse”
Kim even visited Erik and Lyle in prison where they are serving their sentences and praised the inmates, describing them as kind and intelligent men.
“I spent time with Lyle and Erik. They are not monsters. They are kind, intelligent, and honest men. In prison, both have an exemplary disciplinary record. They have earned several college degrees, worked as caregivers for elderly inmates, and been mentors in college programs”
However, Kardashian made it clear that the murders cannot be justified, but she argued that we must consider who they have become over the years and that their lost childhoods deserve to be acknowledged.
Source: NBC News | Photo: Instagram (@kimkardashian) | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team