Menendez brothers murder case under investigation in LA County

The convictions of Erik and Lyle Menendez, imprisoned in the United States more than three decades ago for the murder of their parents, are being reviewed.

The brothers shot and killed Jose and Kitty Menendez in their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989. According to prosecutors, this was a conspiracy to inherit her father's fortune.

On Thursday, L.A. County District Attorney George Gascon said there was “a moral and ethical obligation” to review evidence presented by the brothers last year alleging they were sexually abused by their father and in acted in self-defense.

Public interest in the murders has increased again since a Netflix series about the events was released in September.

During the original trial, prosecutors said the murders were motivated by greed, and evidence that the brothers spent much of their large inheritance on Rolex watches, cars and luxury real estate before they became suspects made the case in the United States notorious.

That original trial ended with a hung jury after the Menendez brothers made allegations of years of abuse.

In a second trial, the allegations of abuse were largely withheld. The brothers were convicted in 1996 and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Among the new evidence currently being examined is a 1988 letter from Erik Menendez to his cousin that allegedly refers to his father's abuse.

“None of this information has been confirmed,” Gascon – the highest-ranking prosecutor in LA – said at a news conference.

He continued: “We are not prepared to say at this time whether we either believe or disbelieve this information.”

“But we are here to tell you that we have a moral and ethical obligation to review what is presented to us.”

He added that his team “did not say there was anything wrong with the original process.”

Gascon said a review could potentially lead to a resentencing or new trial. A hearing is scheduled for November 26, reports the BBC's US partner, CBS News.

Gascon said his office received a flood of calls following the release of “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” on Netflix

The drama has caused controversyRelatives said the brothers had become “victims of this grotesque, shocking drama.”

Series creator Ryan Murphy has defended the series, describing the family's negative reaction as “predictable at best”.

On Thursday, reality TV star Kim Kardashian expressed her support for the brothers, fueling renewed public interest in the case.

“They are not monsters. They are kind, intelligent, honest men,” she said in an article for NBC News.