00:00In California, the Menendez brothers, who have spent more than 30 years in prison for murdering their parents, are making their case for parole this week.
00:09Lyle and Eric Menendez were jailed in 1989 for shooting their parents, Jose and Kitty, at their home in Beverly Hills.
00:16Well, their lawyers have argued the killings followed years of abuse. Here's our North America correspondent, Peter Bowes.
00:23I am ready to...
00:25The murder trial was one of the first to be televised, and it gripped America.
00:30Two brothers from a wealthy family in Beverly Hills accused of killing their parents at close range with shotguns.
00:38I was just firing as I went into the room. I just started firing.
00:41In what direction?
00:42In front of me.
00:43What was in front of you?
00:46My parents.
00:47Prosecutors said they were motivated by money, with the immense funding to inherit their parents' multi-million dollar fortune.
00:54But Eric and Lyle Menendez insisted they acted out of self-defense and a fear for their lives, after years of physical and emotional abuse by both parents, and sexual abuse by their father.
01:07What did you say to your mom?
01:11I told her to tell dad to leave me alone.
01:15And he keeps touching me.
01:18Initially, the brothers claimed they discovered their parents' bodies after returning home from the cinema.
01:23For months, they concealed the truth, until Eric confessed to their therapist, who became a key witness of their trial.
01:31He said that we killed our parents, but I asked him, do you mean you killed your parents?
01:37He said yes.
01:38Eric and Lyle Menendez were eventually found guilty and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
01:44But now, after serving more than 35 years behind bars, they could be set free.
01:51Earlier this year, a judge reduced their sentence to 50 years to life, which means they can be considered for parole.
01:59The Menendez brothers' story is woven into L.A. pop culture, a true crime epic that continues to captivate and divide audiences.
02:10A recent Netflix documentary shed new light on the case.
02:14While the drama series Monsters drew a huge global audience, particularly among the streaming generation not yet born when the murders occurred.
02:26Over the next two days, the brothers will appear before California's parole board, which will decide whether they're suitable for release,
02:34whether they no longer pose a danger to the community.
02:37The state's governor, Gavin Newsom, will make a final decision, but it could be months before the outcome is known.
02:44Peter Bowes, BBC News, Los Angeles.
02:49Now, Charis...
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