Quote:
Originally Posted by Ayles
You don't think it's worth a second look due to more evolved views and understandings of sexual abuse?
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That is the DA's line of reasoning and of course, sexual assault and related subjects are all the rage in legal circles these days. Myself, I've never believed their defense but that's just me. Criminal trials have sort of been an avocation of mine since childhood, my dad was a defense lawyer and I grew up going to his trials. I subsequently developed an interest in journalism and have read about nearly every serious crime case in CA. for the last 40+ years I've lived here.
Just to be clear, Jose Menendez was a steaming pile of schit, that's not really in dispute. A line that sticks with me from the time of the trial was one of his associates saying that, "he would **** a closed umbrella." Still, it's extremely unusual for men to sexually abuse their biological children. Not saying that it's never happened but it's rare. If it was a step-parent? All bets are off. And the sons were in their 20s and big and strong plus they were so close that they functioned as a unit...if one of them split his head open with a bat, I'd find their defense more believable. If some horrible, ongoing sexual abuse was happening, why did they still live at home with their parents, other than the fact that they were still breast-feeding, so to speak?
It's not hard to move out and get your own apartment, I did it at 18 and countless friends did it as well. Not because anyone's parents were so awful but for the freedom and independence! The Menendez brothers were actually spoiled rotten and as entitled as Beverly Hills forever children get. The father bought one of the sons a new Alfa Romeo Spider as a graduation present and the son said, "why did you buy me this POS? I told you that I wanted a Porsche!"
It's an incredibly shocking crime and human beings never cease to amaze me with their evil but I personally don't buy their defense.