California Gov. Gavin Newsom has deferred his decision on granting clemency for convicted murderers Erik and Lyle Menendez until Los Angeles County’s newly elected district attorney Nathan Hochman can review the case, his office announced Nov. 18.
“The governor respects the role of the district attorney in ensuring justice is served and recognizes that voters have entrusted District Attorney-elect Hochman to carry out this responsibility,” his office wrote in a statement Monday afternoon.
“The governor will defer to the DA-elect’s review and analysis of the Menendez case prior to making any clemency decisions,” his office added.
The brothers were 21 and 18 in 1989, when they killed their parents at their Beverly Hills home. In 1996, they were convicted and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole….