Law & Order, The Menendez Murders

[jjkrkwood]

I am totally enjoying this re-creation. The backstory is intense, if it can be totally believed.

[+ Avalon]

I'm watching it. I like it. There's no surprise, the outcome is already known.

 

Sterling Beaumon has a small roll in it. I remember him from "Lost" and an episode from "L&O:SVU"

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterling_Beaumon

[jjkrkwood]

All of the performances are stellar, and eventhough we know the outcome, it holds your attention.

[TruthBTold]

I am enjoying it also. Believe it or not I can't recall the eventual outcome of the case so I look forward to the various episodes. It is really nice that they are interweaving things that happened outside the trial to place the trial into social context.

[+ Avalon]

Well it's over. I do believe that they were sexually abused. However them killing their parents when they did was wrong. There was no immediate danger. They did not kill them in actual self defense.

[+ Avalon]

I thought it interesting that in the recent episode of the ABC sitcom "American Housewife" that the two oldest children reminded their parents that they had watched the show about the Menedez brothers which aired on NBC. One network referencing a program that was on another network.

[jjkrkwood]

Well it's over. I do believe that they were sexually abused. However them killing their parents when they did was wrong. There was no immediate danger. They did not kill them in actual self defense.

 

I disagree, but it was interesting the long history of abuse on Both parents sides.... Kitty & Jose.... But that only was made known after the trial, OR was inadmissable evidence. If you really consider what those boys endured for all those years, the emotional and physical PAIN and suffering, its hard to think THEY BELIEVED there was any other alternative. IMO the "penalty" was "unjust"....

[+ Avalon]

I disagree, but it was interesting the long history of abuse on Both parents sides.... Kitty & Jose.... But that only was made known after the trial, OR was inadmissable evidence. If you really consider what those boys endured for all those years, the emotional and physical PAIN and suffering, its hard to think THEY BELIEVED there was any other alternative. IMO the "penalty" was "unjust"....

 

I suppose I'd have "to wall a mile in their shoes" to truly understand.

[TruthBTold]

Well it's over. I do believe that they were sexually abused. However them killing their parents when they did was wrong. There was no immediate danger. They did not kill them in actual self defense.

 

I think that was their defense. They had an unreasonable but sincerely held belief that their lives were in immediate danger. From the outside looking in it may have been that their parents posed no immediate threat, however based on their past life experience they held that sincere belief. And, according to the film, at least one juror would not have voted to convict had they been allowed to hear some of the evidence regarding their home life that had been excluded.

[jjkrkwood]

I think that was their defense. They had an unreasonable but sincerely held belief that their lives were in immediate danger. From the outside looking in it may have been that their parents posed no immediate threat, however based on their past life experience they held that sincere belief. And, according to the film, at least one juror would not have voted to convict had they been allowed to hear some of the evidence regarding their home life that had been excluded.

 

 

Based on the TV show alone, it seemed as though the entire trial had political motivations, and was railroaded toward a Conviction ? It was made clear the judge had some beef with Leslie Abrahmson, probably because she was a strong and outspoken woman.

[+ quoththeraven]

There was a widespread feeling at the time that their wealth had protected them from charges and that the killings were driven by greed.

 

I didn't follow the trial but evidence of abuse could have lessened the charges to manslaughter and be a mitigating factor in sentencing.