'Monsters' actor calls for retrial of murder-convict Menendez brothers
Cooper Koch, known for his role as Erik Menendez in the Netflix series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, has publicly advocated for a new trial for the infamous Menendez brothers. His call came following a visit to the Richard J Donovan Correctional Facility near San Diego where Lyle and Erik are serving life sentences. During this visit, he was accompanied by Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, and Kris Jenner.
Koch's 1st encounter with the Menendez brothers
Koch described his first encounter with Erik as an immediate connection, telling Variety they "immediately embraced." He also met Lyle and expressed gratitude for being in their presence. The visit occurred on September 21. The Menendez brothers gained notoriety in 1989 after murdering their parents Jose and Kitty Menendez in their Beverly Hills home. They alleged the killings were a response to years of sexual abuse by their father, which their mother ignored.
Koch believes brothers deserve a new trial
Koch has publicly stated that he believes the Menendez brothers deserve a new trial. He explained that during their initial trial, society struggled to comprehend the possibility of male-on-male sexual abuse, particularly between a father and son. With today's increased understanding of child abuse, Koch argues that their case should be reevaluated. The brothers were convicted of first-degree murder in 1996 and sentenced to life without parole after their first trial ended in a deadlock.
Erik's criticism of 'Monsters' and Koch's response
Following the premiere of Monsters, Erik criticized the series on social media, labeling it as "rooted in horrible and blatant lies." He accused creator Ryan Murphy of intentionally spreading false information about his and Lyle's lives. During their prison visit, Koch discussed Erik's feelings about the show and acknowledged how challenging it must be for them to see such a traumatic event from their lives depicted on television.
Menendez brothers' positive contributions in prison
Koch also highlighted the positive contributions the Menendez brothers have been making while in prison. Erik teaches meditation and speech classes, and both brothers are involved in the Greenspace project aimed at improving the prison grounds. This information provides a glimpse into their current lives behind bars, contrasting with their infamous past.
