Leslie Abramson: The fierce defender of the Menendez Brothers
Menendez Brothers: Murder By MediaMenendez Brothers: Murder By Media re-examines this infamous true crime story from a fresh perspective. Did a swirl of media and politics put a thumb on the scales of justice in this case? The show is available now on Crime+Investigation.
The trial of the Menendez Brothers – Lyle and Erik – was one of the most highly publicised trials in American crime history. The brothers were accused and convicted of murdering their parents Kitty and José in 1989.
The trial occurred in the 1990s, and the defence lawyer for Erik – Leslie Abramson – gained national recognition while the trial was ongoing. Abramson’s fiery nature made her a high-profile figure who attracted plenty of media attention.
Here at Crime+Investigation, our team has been taking a closer look at Leslie Abramson’s work and how she became part of one of the biggest cases in the United States.
Who is Leslie Abramson?
Leslie Hope Abramson was born on 6th October 1943, in Flushing, Queens in New York City. She was born to parents who were Jewish immigrants.
After graduating from Queens College, she attended the UCLA School of Law. She received her Juris Doctor (or J.D.) in 1969. A year later, in 1970, Abramson started her journey to become an attorney when she was admitted to the State Bar of California.
Her career began in the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s office. She was there for six years before becoming a defence attorney in a private practice in 1976. Abramson quickly developed a reputation for her ferocity and intense presence in the courtroom.
Abramson and the Menendez Brothers
It was about six months after Kitty and José Menendez were shot dead that Leslie became part of the Menendez brother's case. She was assigned as a defence attorney to Erik Menendez, while Jill Lasing was the defence attorney assigned to his brother Lyle.
Throughout the trial, Leslie was reported to have formed a close bond with the two brothers. In 1996, she told The Washington Post, 'These are not murderers. These are troubled kids in a very difficult and grotesque home environment, and they cracked.'
Leslie had plenty of experience representing murder suspects over the years, but she constantly made it clear that she did not think the Menendez brothers resembled her past clients in any way.
After a retrial, the brothers were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on 17th April 1996. Leslie did not stay quiet about her outrage when the verdict was given. She voiced her feelings on the matter at a press conference that occurred after the verdict, stating, 'I see it as exceedingly cruel and heartless.'
Abramson’s legal troubles
Leslie found herself in trouble for potential ethical violations during the trial, and she was investigated for this by the California State Bar. These violations came from issues surrounding information hidden from the jury.
Leslie worked closely with Dr. William Vicary, Erik’s psychiatrist, during the trial. It was alleged that Leslie had decided to hide certain things from Vicary’s notes from the jury. Vicary also testified that Leslie had tried to make him rewrite his notes and delete certain passages. After a three-year investigation, the case against Leslie was closed due to insufficient evidence.
After the Menendez Brothers trial
Leslie became a published author in 1997, writing a book called The Defense Is Ready: Life in the Trenches of Criminal Law.
She was also hired for another high-profile case in 2004. Phil Spector hired her as a replacement for his attorney Robert Shapiro during the case of the fatal shooting of actress Lana Clarkson in his California mansion. However, Leslie resigned from the job after conflicts between herself and Spector.
The Menendez Brothers series and documentary
Leslie is currently in her 80s and has retired, stepping away from the public eye. However, she has made her disdain for the show Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story very clear.
When asked about the series, she said, 'That piece of s**t that I heard about? I don't watch any of those. I didn't watch the last series, and I don't watch any of the shows about it.'
She also did not appear in the The Menendez Brothers documentary. At the end of the documentary, a written statement from her appears saying the following: '30 years is a long time. I'd like to leave the past in the past. No amount of media, nor teenage petitions will alter the fate of these clients. Only the court can do that and they have ruled.'
Leslie Abramson was not successful in her attempts to convince the jury of the innocence of Erik Menendez, and, subsequently, his brother Lyle. However, her passionate efforts to do so will always be a critical part of one of the most publicised trials in America.
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