LOS ANGELES, CA — An elderly aunt of LYLE and ERIK MENENDEZ was rushed to intensive care after prosecutors displayed unredacted graphic crime scene images during the brothers’ resentencing hearing on Friday, according to a family spokesperson.
TERRY BARALT, 85, the sister of the late JOSÉ MENENDEZ, collapsed in court and remains in critical condition at a Los Angeles hospital. The incident has sparked outrage from the Justice for Erik and Lyle Coalition, a family-led initiative advocating for the brothers’ release, which is calling for accountability and oversight following what they describe as a “reckless and cruel” decision by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.
“We are devastated to share that Terry Baralt has been hospitalized and is in critical condition following the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office’s cruel and careless conduct in court,” the family said in a statement. “No physical pain has ever kept her from being there for her nephews. But the display put on by the DA’s office pushed her past the brink.”
Baralt, who is battling colon cancer, traveled from her home in New Jersey to attend the hearing in support of her nephews. The family alleges that she was forced to witness graphic images, including the body of her brother, without prior warning or preparation.
“Without notice, prosecutors chose to show a graphic, unredacted image of José’s dead body directly in front of us, his surviving family. No one prepared us. There was no warning, no humanity – just shock and pain inflicted on people who have already endured decades of grief,” the family statement continued.
The Menendez family has accused the District Attorney’s Office of violating California’s Marsy’s Law, which guarantees victims the right to be treated with fairness, respect, and dignity. “This wasn’t just cruel. It was a clear violation of our rights,” the family wrote. “The display was retraumatizing, completely avoidable, and we believe it was intentional. The District Attorney’s Office knew what the law required and deliberately chose to ignore it.”
In response, Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman’s office issued a statement expressing regret for the distress caused. “To the extent that the photographic depiction of this conduct upset any of the Menendez family members present in court, we apologize for not giving prior warning that the conduct would be described in detail not only in words but also through a crime scene photo,” the statement read.
Hochman’s office added that the Menendez brothers’ decision to file a habeas petition in 2023 and a request for clemency and resentencing in 2024 was bound to evoke strong emotions. “We never intend to cause distress or pain to individuals who attend a court hearing,” the office said. “These hearings are intended to be a place where the truth, no matter how painful, is brought to light.”
Despite the controversy, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic ruled in favor of the Menendez brothers, allowing their resentencing petition to proceed. The hearings are scheduled to continue on April 17 and 18.
The Menendez brothers were convicted in 1996 for the murders of their parents, JOSÉ and KITTY MENENDEZ, in their Beverly Hills home in 1989. Both brothers have since claimed that they endured years of sexual abuse at the hands of their father, a narrative they presented in documentaries and on social media. Their first trial ended in a mistrial, but a second trial resulted in life sentences.
If the resentencing motion is granted, the decision will ultimately rest with the state parole board, which is scheduled to review the brothers’ case on June 13 as part of a risk assessment ordered by California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Fox News Digital’s Michael Ruiz and Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.
Sources:
[Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com)
[ABC News](https://abcnews.go.com)
[California Courts](https://www.courts.ca.gov)