By Efe Ozkan
ISTANBUL (AA) - Officials in the US state of California have denied Erik Menendez parole, meaning his decades-long stay behind bars for killing his parents in 1989 – in league with his brother, Lyle Menendez – will continue.
"While we respect the decision, today's outcome was, of course, disappointing and not what we hoped for," the Menendez family said in a statement after the parole board’s Thursday decision, according to CBS news.
"But our belief in Erik remains unwavering, and we know he will take the Board's recommendation in stride. His remorse, growth, and the positive impact he's had on others speak for themselves. We will continue to stand by him and hold to the hope he is able to return home soon," it added.
Menendez appeared virtually before the parole panel from a prison in San Diego to argue that after 36 years in prison he no longer poses a threat to public safety, will not re-offend, and that he will take full responsibility for killing his parents, Kitty and Jose Menendez.
Parole Board Commissioner Robert Barton cited Menendez's "behavior in prison" as the primary reason for his parole denial, saying he has not been a “model prisoner,” citing his violations of prison policies such as inappropriate behavior with visitors, drug smuggling, misuse of computers, cellphone usage, and violent incidents in both 1997 and 2011.
Over the years, the Menendez brothers have claimed they killed their parents in self-defense after suffering years of alleged sexual, physical, and emotional abuse.
State law requires the parole board to schedule another hearing three, five, seven, 10 or 15 years in the future, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.