(NewsNation) — Tamara Goodell, a cousin of Lyle and Erik Menendez, told NewsNation’s “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” on Tuesday the brothers have apologized to their family for the events surrounding the deaths of their parents and their subsequent murder trials.
Following a widely publicized mistrial and second trial, Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted in 1996 of murdering their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in August 1989. They were sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Last year, new evidence became public in which Erik Menendez spoke about being sexually abused by his father, a claim seemingly supported by separate but similar allegations made against Jose Menendez by Roy Rossello, a member of the boy band Menudo.
The revelations led the Los Angeles district attorney at the time, George Gascon, to announce his office would consider resentencing the brothers, a move supported by many members of the larger Menendez family.
Since then, Gascon has been replaced by Nathan Hochman, who has appeared hostile to the idea of resentencing, telling Elizabeth Vargas earlier this month, “Until they come clean, fully clean, with the full breadth of their lying, deceit and their denials, they’re not in a position to be trusted, fully rehabiliated and continue to pose a risk to society and public safety.”
“One of the points (Hochman) has made repeatedly is that he wants Erik and Lyle to apologize to us as a family,” Goodell told Vargas. “I have to tell you, they have apologized to us multiple times, have said, ‘We want to sit down with you. We want to answer your questions.’
“They’ve never once denied, or tried to scapegoat, what actions they took.”
The Menendez family has requested Hochman be removed from the case or recuse himself. The brothers’ next resentencing hearing is currently scheduled for May 9.