Menendez Case

Psychologist Thomas Hersh’s contention (Commentary, Dec. 24) that the Menendez brothers’ murder of their parents somehow might parallel the placemement of elderly parents in retirement homes reaches a bit far. First, while bringinbg up Freud’s “primal horde” theory that sons banded together in ancient times to kill their fathers, he neglected to mention that sons seldom kill their mothers, also Freudian theory. He refers to the unconscious nature of wanting to be rid of our parents. As Freud surmised, it is difficult to argue against the unconscious mind and its concurrent behavior. It surely might (and probably does) exist. But can we ascribe all behavior to it, and does that in itself excuse that behavior? The bottom line in the Menendez trial remains: Why didn’t the brothers, having been abused and fearful for their safety, simply flee the scene?

CHARLES R. BARR

Upland

How much has the Menendez trial cost the taxpayers of Los Angeles County? And how many lawyers and so-called expert witnesses have been made very rich by this trial? Your headline “A Circus of Disorder in the Court” (Dec. 17) is an apt description of the trial!

JOHN W. WONG

Los Angeles