TRIAL STORY: THE MENENDEZ BROTHERS ON TRIAL: THE
REAL STORY {TAPE 1 OF 2} (TV)
Summary
Tape one of two. One in this series of documentary
films that present condensed and annotated versions of
high-profile trials. This episode follows the joint
murder trial of brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez, who
stand accused of killing their parents, Jose and Kittie,
on August 20, 1989. Host Terry Moran opens the program
with some background information on the case,
explaining that both brothers had been in trouble with
authorities before, twenty-two-year-old Lyle for
plagiarism at Princeton University and nineteen-year-old
Erik for petty burglary. They were charged with the
murders after confessing to their psychologist, Dr.
Jerome Oziel, but later denied having any role in their
parents' deaths. They took on Leslie Abramson and Jill
Lansing as defense attorneys and were up against lead
prosecutor Pamela Bozanich. Judge Stanley Weisberg
was assigned the case. Mere weeks before the trial was
set to begin, Moran explains, the brothers did an about
face and suddenly admitted guilt, saying that they
killed in self-defense after years of sexual and
emotional abuse. The trial opens with the prosecution's
presentation of Lyle Menendez's dramatic but now
admittedly fake 911 call on the night of the murders, as
well as a series of brutal photos of the corpses of the
Menendez parents. The prosecution also attempts to cast
suspicion on the brothers by pointing out that
immediately after the murders the pair went on a
shopping spree -- buying clothes, watches, a Porsche,
and a restaurant. The prosecution then uncovers a
bombshell: Dr. Oziel still has the audiotape of the
brothers' confession to the crime. The defense argues
that playing this tape for the jury would violate
patient/therapist privilege, but the objection is
overruled. While the tape is being prepared, prosecutor
Bozanich interviews Craig Cignarelli, a former school
friend of Erik who collaborated with him on a screenplay
about a kid who kills his wealthy parents for the money
he will inherit. Meanwhile, Moran explains that the
defense team has changed its approach a bit. While the
brothers once wore dark, expensive suits to court, they
are now wearing lots of sweaters in pastel colors. When
the defense finally calls Lyle and Erik Menendez to
testify, the two are presented as victims of a crime
themselves. Their testimony is marked by long bouts of
sobbing as they relate horrific stories of rape and
torture at the hands of their father Jose. Commercials
deleted. Continues with T:47257.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by The
New York Community Trust - Haas Foundation Fund.
Details
- NETWORK: Court TV
- DATE: 1994
- RUNNING TIME: 0:50:40
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:47246
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Trials (Murder)
- SERIES RUN: Court TV - TV series, 1991-1998
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Steve Johnson … Executive Producer
- Jamie Alter … Senior Producer
- Mark A. Harris … Producer
- Dorothy Ledden … Associate Producer
- Suzanne Worden … Associate Producer
- Steven Brill … Production (Misc.), Editor-in-Chief
- Terry Moran … Host
- Leslie Abramson
- Pamela Bozanich
- Craig Cignarelli
- Jill Lansing
- Erik Menendez
- Jose Menendez
- Kittie Menendez
- Lyle Menendez
- Jerome Oziel
- Stanley Weisberg