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An state judge has turned down a request for a new for Erik and Lyle Menendez, stating that claims of sexual abuse did not outweigh their premeditation and intent when they murdered their parents over 35 years ago.

Latest Ruling and Legal Background

The recent decision by Los Angeles superior court Judge William C Ryan arrives just a short time after the siblings were refused parole and closes another possible path to freedom for the pair, who have served nearly 30 years behind bars.

The brothers were given life sentences in 1996 for killing their father, José Menendez, and mother, their mother, in their Beverly Hills home in 1989. They were young adults at the time.

While their lawyers contended the brothers acted in self-defense after years of mistreatment, the state claimed the duo killed their parents for a multimillion-dollar inheritance.

Parole Hearings and Judge's Reasoning

The judge stated that recent proof that slightly corroborates the abuse allegations does not negate the fact that the brothers acted with forethought and planning.

"The evidence alleged here is not so convincing that it would have created a uncertainty in the mind of at least one jury member," the judge wrote.

Mark Geragos, a lawyer for the siblings, did not immediately comment on the decision.

Recent Release Outcomes

A board of two officials on August 22 rejected the older brother parole for three years after a daylong hearing. The panel observed that the older brother still exhibited problematic personality traits like deception, minimization, and rule-breaking.

The younger brother, who is held at the same prison in San Diego, was likewise denied parole a day before, after commissioners determined that his conduct in prison made him a risk to public safety.

Defendants' Accounts and Support

During his hearing, the younger sibling offered his most comprehensive description in years of how he was brought up and why he made the choices he did.

"I was not raised with a moral foundation," he said. "I was taught to lie, to cheat, to steal in an abstract way."

In the past months, backing from public figures and greater awareness of the siblings as survivors of abuse has contributed to amass a large number of supporters who have demanded their release.

The previous Los Angeles district attorney first opened the way to potential release for the defendants by petitioning a judge to lessen their prison terms.

Since their conviction, the inmates have obtained an degree, taken part in self-help programs, and established various support groups for fellow inmates.

Final Remarks

The judge's ruling to ultimately reject the retrial request came after a period of opposition from present legal authorities.