Kim Kardashian has penned a compelling essay calling for the release of Erik and Lyle Menendez, the brothers convicted in 1996 for the murder of their parents.
Following a visit to the Menendez brothers in prison, Kardashian expressed her support, arguing that the brothers were victims of years of abuse by their parents.
In her essay for NBC News, Kardashian wrote, “We are all products of our experiences…time changes us, and I doubt anyone would claim to be the same person they were at 18.”
Reflecting on the Menendez case, she noted, “You think you know the story… but as is often the case, this story is much more complex than it appears on the surface.” She highlighted the brothers’ claims of being sexually, physically, and emotionally abused by their father, José Menendez, which they believed left them no other way out than to commit the crime.
Her essay comes ahead of a court hearing in November after the Los Angeles District Attorney received new evidence that could potentially lead to a resentencing or retrial. This evidence reportedly includes allegations that José Menendez molested his sons.
Kardashian praised the brothers’ conduct in prison, describing them as “kind, intelligent, and honest men” with exemplary records.
She also noted their academic achievements and commitment to helping other inmates. In her essay, she stressed, “Twenty-four family members, including their parents’ siblings, have released statements fully supporting Lyle and Erik.”
Renewed interest in the case has emerged following Netflix’s true-crime series “Monsters,” which was released in September.
Kardashian concluded her essay by expressing hope that the Menendez brothers’ life sentences will be reconsidered, stating,
“We owe it to those little boys who lost their childhoods, who never had a chance to be heard, helped, or saved.”
