Monsoon disaster in Pakistan: 21 dead, hundreds rescued as floods strike
At least 21 people have died in the past 24 hours as monsoon-triggered flash floods and landslides swept across Pakistan, pushing this year’s rain-r...
Lyle and Erik Menendez, convicted for killing their parents in 1989, have been declared eligible for parole after 35 years in prison following a re-sentencing under California’s youthful offender law.
Lyle and Erik Menendez, who have served 35 years for the 1989 murders of their parents in Beverly Hills, were ruled eligible for parole on Tuesday during a re-sentencing hearing in Los Angeles. The decision was made under California’s youthful offender statute, which allows parole consideration for individuals who committed crimes before age 26 and have served at least half of their sentence.
The brothers, now aged 57 and 54, had been serving life without the possibility of parole following their 1996 conviction. The re-sentencing, led by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic, replaced their original terms with new sentences of 50 years to life.
Judge Jesic described the original crime as “absolutely horrific” but noted the brothers’ rehabilitation in prison as “amazing,” citing their behaviour and contributions while incarcerated. Both expressed remorse during the hearing and accepted full responsibility for the killings.
The Menendez brothers were found guilty of first-degree murder for fatally shooting their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, as they watched television in August 1989. The prosecution argued the motive was financial gain, while the defence maintained that the brothers acted out of fear following years of sexual and emotional abuse.
Recent evidence, including a letter Erik allegedly wrote to a cousin and new claims from a former member of the 1980s pop band Menudo, was presented to support the abuse allegations. These claims were also the subject of renewed public interest through recent documentaries and dramatizations.
The parole decision now rests with the California parole board and Governor Gavin Newsom. A separate parole board hearing is scheduled for June 13 to review clemency petitions.
While the defence pointed to rehabilitation and family forgiveness, the prosecution maintained opposition, questioning whether the brothers had genuinely taken responsibility and arguing that they remain untrustworthy.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
Iran launched 18 ballistic missiles late Sunday targeting the U.S. military’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American installation in the Middle East.
Australian researchers have created a groundbreaking “biological AI” platform that could revolutionise drug discovery by rapidly evolving molecules within mammalian cells.
Australian researchers have pioneered a low-cost and scalable plasma-based method to produce ammonia gas directly from air, offering a green alternative to the traditional fossil fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
Indonesia and the U.S. have sealed a sweeping trade agreement that slashes tariffs, lifts digital restrictions, and removes key export barriers, marking a major win for American exporters and automakers.
At least 21 people have died in the past 24 hours as monsoon-triggered flash floods and landslides swept across Pakistan, pushing this year’s rain-related death toll to 242.
A head-on collision between a minibus taxi and a haulage truck killed 17 people in northeastern Zimbabwe on Tuesday, police said.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday, marking the first official visit by a top Israeli diplomat to Ukraine in more than two years.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday unveiled a new trade agreement with Indonesia, calling it a major victory for American industries.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment