Menendez Case Delayed Pending Key Ruling

The murder case against Lyle and Erik Menendez was postponed again Friday as the California Supreme Court remained silent on a key issue in the case. Beverly Hills Municipal Court Judge Charles Rubin set another hearing for June 21. By then, he said, the high court may have decided whether it will take up the issue of taped conversations between the defendants and their psychologist.

An appeals court has ruled that tape recordings of the brothers’ sessions with psychologist Jerome Oziel were not covered by the doctor-patient privilege because the men allegedly threatened to kill Oziel during the conversations. The ruling by the 2nd District Court of Appeal left the way open for prosecutors to use Oziel’s testimony and tapes as evidence against the brothers when they stand trial for the murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez.

The couple was found slain at their Beverly Hills mansion in August, 1989. The sons were arrested a year and half later after Oziel’s girlfriend went to police and said that Lyle 23, and Erik, 20, had confessed to murdering their parents.