March 1, 1996
Web posted at: 6:30 p.m. EST
LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- Jurors in the murder case against Erik and Lyle Menendez began deliberations Friday at noon after a judge instructed them to bury prejudice, passion, and public opinion.
"You must not be influenced by pity for the defendants or bias against them," Superior Court Judge Stanley Weisberg said as he began reading nearly two hours of instructions.
The Menendez brothers are charged with the 1989 shotgun murders of their parents, wealthy record industry executive Jose Menendez and his wife, Kitty. The brothers have confessed to the killings and could face the death penalty if convicted of first-degree murder.
In the killing of the father, the judge gave jurors the option of finding for manslaughter. But in the case of their mother, they were not given that choice because of an earlier ruling.
"If you have some doubt whether the killing of Jose Menendez was murder or manslaughter, you must give the defendants the benefit of the doubt and find manslaughter," the judge said.
The prosecution and defense concluded closing arguments Thursday.
The defense argued that the brothers feared their father, who allegedly abused them sexually and physically over the years. The prosecution claims greed was the motivating factor behind the murders, saying the brothers wanted to get their hands on their parents' estate, said to be worth at least $13 million.
Jose Menendez "viewed his sons as an investment," and Kitty Menendez overlooked anything to preserve the family image, defense lawyer Charles Gessler said.
Gessler told jurors Mrs. Menendez rubbed sullied sheets in Lyle's face after he wet his bed. "She wanted to break him of the habit because she didn't want anyone to find out about it," he said.
Erik Menendez's attorney, Leslie Abramson, concluded her closing presentation on Wednesday, reminding jurors of testimony from experts who said he suffered post-traumatic stress disorder.
Prosecutor David Conn attacked what he called a "blame-the-victims strategy" by the defense.
"Their whole defense is based on Mr. and Mrs. Menendez being evil and sick," Conn told jurors.
Holding up a photograph of Mrs. Menendez several times, Conn told the jury: "They want you to believe a lot of mumbo-jumbo. But what we are here for is to decide a murder case."
Conn pointed to the Menendez brothers and said: "These two are heartless killers, and they had no love when they killed their parents."
This is the second time Erik and Lyle Menendez are being tried in the killings. In the first trial, each brother had a separate jury, but both ended in mistrials.
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