Erik and Joseph “Lyle” Menendez, the Beverly Hills brothers who shotgunned their parents to death from behind in 1989, are asking California Gov. Gavin Newsom for clemency less than a week after Los Angeles’ district attorney told a judge their prison sentences should be reduced.

Their lawyer, Mark Geragos, filed documents Monday, with the support of LA District Attorney George Gascon, according to the latter’s office.

The governor’s office said it is unable to discuss specifics.

MENENDEZ BROTHERS RESENTENCING: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

“Pending clemency applications are confidential, and we’re not able to discuss individual cases,” a spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

The brothers are both serving life without the possibility of parole, but Gascon’s request last week cleared the way for a judge to impose lesser sentences on the brothers.

Gascon recommended 50 years to life, which would make them immediately eligible for parole hearings. He said he opposed taking things a step further and having their crimes reduced from first-degree murder to manslaughter.

Then he turned around Wednesday and publicly urged Newsom to grant clemency and release the brothers before the resentencing process plays out in front of a judge.

MENENDEZ BROTHERS PROSECUTOR ANNOUNCES RESENTENCING DECISION

Mark Geragos, defense attorney of Erik and Lyle Menendez, the Beverly Hills brothers convicted of killing their parents, speaks during a press conference at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles on Oct. 16. (Reuters/Mike Blake)

“I strongly support clemency for Erik and Lyle Menendez, who are currently serving sentences of life without possibility of parole,” Gascon said. “They have respectively served 34 years and have continued their educations and worked to create new programs to support the rehabilitation of fellow inmates.”

The DA, who is up for reelection in less than a week, sent a separate letter in support of each brother to the governor.

Read Gascon’s letter in support of Erik Menendez

The killings were premeditated. The brothers walked up behind their parents with shotguns while the two were watching TV at 10:30 p.m. And they had to go to the car to reload before firing a fatal shot at their mother, who tried to escape the bloody crime scene after being injured.

No matter what happens with their clemency request, Newsom would still have the final say over whether they should go free.

Read Gascon’s letter in support of Lyle Menendez

Even if the parole board approves their release, the governor has veto power.

TIMELINE OF THE MENENDEZ BROTHERS’ MURDER CASE

An undated photo of the Menendez family as it appears onscreen during a panel at CrimeCon 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 2. Lyle and Erik were convicted of fatally shooting their parents in 1989. (Michael Ruiz/Fox News Digital)

The brothers claim they shot their father, former RCA Records executive Jose Menendez, in self-defense, arguing they thought he was going to kill them after they warned him they planned to expose him as a child sex abuser.

They also killed their mother, Mary “Kitty” Menendez, who was sitting next to Jose eating ice cream and watching TV during the ambush.

Their first trial ended in a mistrial, when jurors couldn’t agree on their fate. After a second trial in the mid-1990s, in which some of their evidence about the alleged sexual abuse was excluded, jurors agreed with prosecutors that their motive was greed. 

San Francisco’s Front Street transformed into a ghoulishly boozy block party Thursday as residents came out to rage in their Halloween finest.

The downtown Entertainment Zone, which has welcomed legal public drinking events since September, hosted the “Nightmare on Front Street” event between 2 and 10 p.m. The party featured four haunting hours of Halloween jams from a live band and two costume contests.

Participating merchants also dressed up and served Halloween specials like potion drinks and “monster” pretzels. The event was, to borrow a phrase from the city press release about it, “spooktacular.”

Our photographer spotted everything from a billboard attorney turf war to conjoined cherries at Front Street’s raging Halloween party. See some of the best snaps below.

Vance Joseph wasn’t coaching on his terms and Denver’s run defense paid a price.

In his first season back in Denver, the Broncos defensive coordinator thought it was best to do things that were similar to what players did under the previous regime. Joseph’s plan, however, backfired. The Broncos gave up the third-most rushing yards in the league (137.1), the most yards per attempt (5.1) and 56 rushes for 10-plus yards, according to Next Gen Stats.

Their performance against the Dolphins — 726 total yards allowed, including 350 on the ground — left a stain that was hard to wipe away.

In the offseason, Joseph knew a philosophical change was needed. He wanted to steer away from shell coverages and instead encouraged his defensive linemen to play with more aggression. Through eight weeks, that shift has paid off.

Denver has been one of the best run defenses in the NFL, making Sunday’s matchup against the Ravens rushing attack, spearheaded by quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry, highly anticipated.

“I truly think, in this day and age in the NFL, if you’re not playing on your terms, you’re losing,” Joseph told The Denver Post. “Last year, we (weren’t) doing that and it didn’t help our team win.”

The Bronco’s success has been more than just a change in mindset. They added reinforcements in the trenches to fit their new approach. They traded for former Jets defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers during the draft and signed run-stopper Malcolm Roach to a two-year deal. Meanwhile, outside linebacker Nik Bonitto spent the offseason improving as a run defender so he could be more than a pass-rush specialist.

Denver tailored the defense to fit the vision of its leader, and the results have been impressive. Through eight games, the Broncos have given up 106.4 rushing yards per game — seventh-best in the NFL — and four yards per carry.

The Broncos have held opponents under 100 rushing yards four times, with each of those efforts resulting in a victory. They had six games with fewer than 100 rushing yards allowed the entire 2023 season.

“We brought in some guys who play an attacking style, which I think, personally, a lot of top defenses play that way,” Allen told The Post. “It’s been a lot of fun. And when you stop the run, go get opportunities to rush the passer.”

Allen has been one of the league leaders in QB pressures (fifth with 38), but he has played the run well, too. He has 17 run stops, according to Pro Football Focus. Edge rusher Jonathon Cooper and inside linebacker Justin Strnad, who replaced Alex Singleton after his season-ending injury, have also played integral roles with 10 run stops apiece.

Now comes the real test for all of that progress: The Baltimore Ravens.

Over the years, Baltimore has had one of the best rushing attacks. Since 2018, the boys in black and purple finished first in rushing yards three times, and they are on track to do the same this year. Jackson has had a major hand in that, collecting 5,579 rushing yards in seven seasons.

“I don’t think anyone runs the ball as good as those guys because of Lamar,” Joseph said. “It’s like (former Falcons quarterback) Michael Vick back in the day…(those) offenses were always top five in rushing because he added 60 yards.”

Jackson has missed the last two days of practice due to a back/knee injury, but Ravens coach John Harbaugh told reporters in Baltimore that the 2-time MVP was resting on Wednesday. Joseph is planning on Jackson being available. “I think Lamar’s going to play. It’s midseason. Maybe he’s a little beat up. But he’s always answered the bell,” he said.

In the offseason, the Ravens basically added a jetpack to a rocket with the signing of Henry — a four-time Pro Bowler — to a two-year deal. In his ninth season in the NFL, Henry hasn’t lost a step. He has played on an MVP level, rushing for 946 yards and nine scores on 145 carries.

The former Titan has had four games of at least 100 yards rushing. The Broncos, however, have allowed a player to top 100 rushing yards in a game just once: Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker (103 yards) in the season-opener.

“It’s a testament to him,” Roach said of Henry’s longevity. “I’ve seen him train before in Dallas and it was a sight to see. There’s no surprise why he has so much success.”

Joseph said the Ravens have done a solid job executing “The Henry offense,” which is a steady diet of power runs, outside zone and toss plays. The numbers don’t lie: Henry has 77 carries for 632 yards and five touchdowns on outside zone runs, according to Next Gen Stats.

Stopping Henry or Jackson has been problematic over the years. It’s even trickier now that they share the same backfield. Jackson and Henry have a special ability to break loose for explosive runs. Jackson is first in the league with 20 rushing attempts for 10-plus yards. Henry is right behind him with 19.

The Ravens are an even greater challenge whenever they use read-option plays that make both Jackson and Henry a threat to run. The Broncos could assign a “spy” to cover Jackson specifically on each snap. Such a player would have to be able to put pressure on Jackson and not let him get settled in the pocket.

“The key part is having enough scheme to cover that extra gap because of (Jackson),” Joseph said. “So if you don’t have something to take away that extra gap, that’s the problem.”

Against Baltimore’s offense, it might take more than just stacking the box with eight-plus defenders. Numbers have shown that the Ravens have been effective in running against stacked boxes this season. On 79 run plays against stacked boxes, they have totaled 63.4 yards per game, according to Next Gen Stats. Henry has 377 rushing yards and eight touchdowns in those situations.

And if the Broncos put more defenders at the line of scrimmage, they could be vulnerable to giving up explosive plays in the passing game. Jackson is fifth in yards (2,099), second in touchdowns (17) and first in passer rating (115.4). Jackson has done a solid job at spreading the ball around. The Ravens have had nine different players catch a touchdown pass.

“Some (teams) fill the box, but that sets up a lot of opportunities with the passing game when you’re committed to stopping the run,” Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II said. “It allows the play (action) pass, (bootlegs), RPOs (and) all those things that feed off the run to have success in the passing game.”

On Sunday, an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. The Broncos defense has transformed into one of the best in the league, and they look forward to keeping that status against the Ravens.

“They’re the No. 1 ranked offense in the NFL, so it’ll definitely be a great challenge for us to see where (how) we match up against them,” outside linebacker Baron Browning said. “I think we’re all up for the challenge.”

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Originally Published: October 31, 2024 at 7:32 PM MDT