In the United States, we have long been fascinated by the genre known as “true crime.” There is hardly a household in America that does not dedicate a block of time to watching shows like Law & Order and CSI which are often inspired by real events. Others opt for the reality TV approach, such as The First 48. But, at the end of the day, most people tune in to Law & Order, and the spin-offs Special Victims Unit and Criminal Intent created by Dick Wolf.

In recent years, there has been a desire to redirect TV viewer attention to murder cases which captured America’s attention in the 1990’s. The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story was aired last year, and for those too young to remember the details it was like watching the horrific story unfold for the first time. A few years before the O.J. trial, there was another murder case that grabbed the attention of people across the country. The Menendez Brothers of Beverly Hills, California.

True Crime In America

In 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez brutally murdered their father and mother in their upscale Southern California home. In 1994, the two brothers were convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder; they were sentenced to life in prison for their crimes. Now, 28 years later, Dick Wolf has decided to bring the case back into the spotlight. “Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders” premiered on September 26, 2017, on NBC. The eight-part mini-series is the first installment of Law & Order True Crime. The show airs at 10 PM EST every Tuesday for the next several weeks.

The case of the Menendez brothers, much like the Simpson case, was unique. Being some of the first high profile trials to be televised from the courtroom. Thus, allowing Americans a “fly-on-the-wall” experience to the criminal justice system. Recently, Lyle Menendez spoke with Today’s Megyn Kelly by telephone from Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, CA, saying that he and his brother were “blinded by emotion,” and hopes that God is “very forgiving.” You can take a moment to watch below:

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Orange County Homicide Attorney

Attorney Brower has extensive experience in homicide defense and is prepared to provide the quality representation for you or a loved one. If you are in need of sound representation, please contact us at your convenience.