A forthcoming Netflix documentary about a high-profile murder case could feature evidence previously suggested by a journalist who has covered the story for over thirty years.
The Menendez Brothers documentary, set to join the streaming service later in October, is a follow-up to the recent Monsters anthology series that dramatised numerous events related to the murders of Jose and Kitty Menendez.
Lyle and Erik Menendez were ultimately convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.
However, one reporter who penned articles from the courtroom at the time insists they should now be released.
But who exactly is this journalist, Robert Rand, and what is his involvement with the case?
TRIAL OF BROTHERS LYLE ERIK MENENDEZ, PARRICIDES (Photo by Ted Soqui/Sygma via Getty Images) (Image: Sygma via Getty Images)
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Who is Robert Rand?
Robert Rand is an investigative journalist and author who has worked with several media outlets, reports .
In 2001, he received a local Emmy for his reporting on a wrongly accused illegal immigrant, leading to the man’s release from prison.
Rand has been employed by CBS affiliates KCBS in Los Angeles and KYW in Philadelphia. His website states that he is a University of Pennsylvania graduate and resides in Los Angeles.
He had no involvement in the series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, neither in its production nor mentioned as a character in any of its episodes.
What is Robert Rand’s association with the Menendez brothers?
Rand, who reported on the Menendez murders for the Miami Herald over three decades ago in 1989, also attended each day of both trials from 1993-94 and 1995-96, providing analysis for Court TV, CNN, ABC News and CBS News.
He penned stories about the case including ‘Who killed the next U.S. Senator from Florida?’ for the Miami Herald in December 1989 and ‘A Beverly Hills Paradise Lost’ for People magazine in March, 1990 following the arrest of the brothers.
In addition to producing articles for Playboy, Rand had a book published in 2017 titled The Menendez Murders, which was used as a primary source for the NBC limited series Law and Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders.
The journalist later served as an executive producer and star in a documentary series streamed on Peacock in the US, named Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed.
In this documentary, Rand, along with singer Roy Rossello, suggest new evidence that Jose Menendez sexually assaulted Rossello.
Rand maintains contact with the brothers through phone calls and regular visits, documenting these conversations and other updates surrounding their fight for freedom on his blog.
What does Rand say about the Menendez brothers now?
While he doesn’t dispute that the brothers murdered their parents, he frequently expresses his belief that they should be released from prison, asserting that they were abused by their father.
He also argues that they should not have been imprisoned for murder, suggesting a verdict of manslaughter would have been more appropriate.
In an earlier conversation with The Sun this year, he stated: “The correct sentence for the Menendez case should have been manslaughter and not murder. You can’t get around the elephant in the room which is that Erik and Lyle killed their parents.”
“The defence put on 50 witnesses – teachers, coaches, family and friends that told a very detailed story about a family that was dysfunctional and spinning out of control.”
“If the brothers had been convicted of manslaughter, they would serve 11 years on each count in California, so they would have been in jail for 22 years and now they have been in jail for 34 years and six months.”
“In other words, they would have gotten out 12 years ago.”