Judge Who Visited Menendez Brothers With Dogs In Prison Says They Deserve A Second Chance

A retired Miami criminal court judge, once known for handing out tough sentences, has become an unexpected advocate for the parole of Erik and Lyle Menendez. The two brothers, the subject of a recent Netflix docudrama, were convicted over 30 years ago for the shotgun murders of their parents.

Jonathan T Colby's change of heart came after visiting the brothers in prison with his golden retrievers as part of a pet therapy programme. Over the past decade, Judge Colby has brought his dogs to meet inmates, including the Menendez brothers, hoping to soften hardened hearts.

The judge told The NY Post that Sirhan Sirhan, convicted for assassinating Robert F Kennedy in 1968, "cried like a baby" when he met one of Mr Colby's dogs. But it was the Menendez brothers' transformation that truly surprised him.

Mr Colby described how Erik and Lyle helped improve prison life by painting murals throughout the prison yard. These included tributes to veterans, both guards and inmates and cheerful Disney characters. One mural showed the Coronado dog beach in San Diego, featuring a golden retriever.  It was a place the brothers said they would never see again but wanted to enjoy through their art.

Judge Colby testified in favour of resentencing the Menendez brothers at a recent hearing. New evidence of past sexual abuse was part of the argument for reevaluating their life sentences without parole. On May 13, a judge ruled their sentences could be reduced, making parole possible.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman opposed the decision, saying the brothers never fully admitted their guilt in the brutal 1989 murders. They shot their parents 16 times.

Despite this, Mr Colby said the positive changes he witnessed during his visits were remarkable. The brothers set up a mentoring programme, helped younger inmates, promoted education and rehabilitation programmes, and worked on improving the prison environment.

Mr Colby said, "They did so many things that I observed and witnessed that were commended before they had any hope of being recognised with a pardon, parole or resentencing."

Once a strict judge who saw prison mainly as a way to protect society, Judge Colby said his views on rehabilitation shifted. "When I saw the work they did and the degrees they received from the University of California while incarcerated, plus all their work, plus the programmes they set up... this is what rehabilitation in prison looks like."

The brothers have parole hearings scheduled for August 21 and 22. The decision to release them will rest with the parole board and California Governor Gavin Newsom.