VAN NUYS : Deliberations Continue in Menendez Murder Trial
Erik Menendez’s jury listened to a brief rereading of testimony Wednesday while Lyle Menendez’s jury remained behind closed doors continuing deliberations in the brothers’ murder trial.
The Erik Menendez jury had two brief bits of the trial read back: a police detective’s account of how he linked the brothers to the Aug. 18, 1989, purchase of shotguns at a San Diego sporting goods store, and a stipulation of when a TV movie about another murder case was broadcast.
Prosecutors allege that the made-for-TV movie about the Billionaire Boys Club, which aired in July, 1989, inspired the Menendez brothers to kill their parents. The defense says there is no link between the movie and the Aug. 20, 1989, slayings of Jose and Kitty Menendez.
The Billionaire Boys Club was a group of wealthy young Southern California men who turned to murder.
Prosecutors contend that Lyle Menendez, 25, and Erik Menendez, 23, killed out of hatred and greed. The brothers admit the slayings but testified that they killed out of fear fed by years of abuse.
Two juries are weighing the case because some evidence was admitted against only one brother.
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