Here’s the surprising part: the prosecution did ask for the death penalty. They begged for it. They brought out the big guns, including a prosecutor who looked like he’d been practicing his “I’m very serious” face in the mirror. But the jury in the second trial—a jury that was older, whiter, and richer than the first—decided that death was a bit much. Why? Because they felt sorry for the brothers? No, because they thought the abuse claims, even with limited evidence, made them less evil. It’s like saying, “Well, your childhood was terrible, so you only get a little bit of forever-punishment.”
Fun fact: The judge in the second trial, Stanley Weisberg, was the same judge who presided over the O.J. Simpson trial. Yes, the O.J. guy. So you had a judge who’d seen a white Ford Bronco chase and a glove that didn’t fit, and then he had to decide if two brothers should fry. Talk about a weird resume builder. Weisberg could’ve charged a small country with all that legal baggage.
What About the “They Should’ve Been Executed” Crowd?
Oh, they’re loud. Every few years, someone writes an op-ed titled “Why Those Menendez Kids Got Off Easy.” But here’s the juicy fact: California hasn’t executed anyone since 2006 because of legal challenges and a general “murder is bad, but killing in the name of the state is also complicated” vibe. So even if the brothers had gotten the death penalty, they’d likely be sitting on death row, playing Scrabble and wondering if they should’ve just hired a better lawyer. The death penalty in California is like a fancy dinner reservation that never gets honored—you’re on the list, but you’re never getting a table.
And get this: In California, the death penalty costs more than life in prison. Like, way more. One study said each execution costs the state $300 million in legal fees and appeals. So the Menendez brothers, by not getting the needle, actually saved the taxpayers a small fortune. You’re welcome, California. Their prison canteen snacks are on the state, but hey, at least it’s not a million-dollar syringe.
The Menendez Brothers Murder Trial: Justice served or rigged? | KTLA
