LOS ANGELES — With a resentencing hearing set to begin in Van Nuys Thursday for Erik and Lyle Menendez for the 1989 killings of their parents, a group of parents of murdered children are insisting the brothers should "do every day" of their original sentences of life in state prison without the possibility of parole.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman's Office filed a motion late Wednesday asking to delay the hearing so it could obtain and review the latest risk assessment of the brothers conducted by the state parole board, according to the LA Times. The assessment was ordered this year by Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is considering a separate petition from the brothers seeking clemency for the killings.


What You Need To Know

  • The Menendez brothers are expected to have a resentencing hearing Thursday in a Van Nuys courtroom after a judge ruled they could move forward with the proceedings

  • The pair were convicted in 1996 on first-degree murder charges for the shotgun killings of their parents, Jose and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez in 1989

  • Prosecutors object to the brothers being resentenced, while defense attorneys are hoping to have them resentenced to a lesser term, either allowing them to be released or become eligible for parole

  • Several of those who spoke Wednesday expressed strong support for new LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, who opposes the possible resentencing of the pair

"This resentencing of the Menendez brothers I am against because it's sending a message to all murderers that (they) have a second opportunity to be released," Emma Rivas said at Wednesday's news conference at the San Pedro offices of the support and advocacy group Justice for Murdered Children.

"Because 30 years from today I do not want to walk in the store and see the murderer of my child. They (the Menendez brothers) were given life without patrol and (the court) should stay with that because they murdered their parents," added Rivas, whose son was shot to death in 2016.

The Menendez brothers are expected to have a resentencing hearing Thursday in a Van Nuys courtroom after a judge ruled they could move forward with the proceedings. The pair were convicted in 1996 on first-degree murder charges for the shotgun killings of their parents, Jose and Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez in 1989.

Prosecutors object to the brothers being resentenced, while defense attorneys are hoping to have them resentenced to a lesser term, either allowing them to be released or become eligible for parole.

"Murder is a horrendous crime ... resentencing these individuals will not only undermine the justice system but will perpetuate the culture of violence and victim-blaming," said LaWanda Hawkins, who founded JMC after the loss of her son, Reginald, who was murdered in December 1995.

"We're saying no to the resentencing of murderers who show no remorse and no accountability for what they've done," she said. "We deserve a second chance, too."

Community activist and organizer Najee Ali said "there's no way" the Menendez brothers should be released.

"The fact is, the Menendez brothers were convicted of killing both their parents in what we call an execution," he said. "There's no way they should ever be released from prison for what they did. They show no remorse and they have not accepted responsibility for the murders of their father and mother."

Several of those who spoke Wednesday expressed strong support for new LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, who opposes the possible resentencing of the pair.

"I want to thank Nathan Hochman for doing a phenomenal job," a JMC member said. "Keep those guys in jail."

Ali said the organization believes the possible re-sentencing of the Menendez brothers is a "travesty. They should do every day they earned and deserve. They've already had their day in court. In fact, they've had two days in court — the first trial and the second trial where they were found guilty."