Truth behind why Menendez brothers' lawyer Leslie Abrahamson refused to be part of shocking Netflix documentary

Among the countless true-crime experts, family members, prosecutors and journalists that appeared in Netflix's newly released Menedez brothers documentary, viewers were left wondering why defence lawyer Leslie Abramson was absent.

The criminal barrister famously defended Erik Menendez in court back in 1994, before he and his brother Lyle were sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of their parents at their Beverly Hills home.

Since then, however, Abramson has seemingly taken a step back from the spotlight.

Who are the Menendez brothers?

Five years prior to their sentencing, Lyle and Erik Menendez killed their parents with a close-range shotgun, claiming to have been subjected to years of sexual abuse at the hands of their 'perfectionist' businessman father, José.

Claiming their mother, Mary Louise 'Kitty' Menendez, had known about the abuse but refused to act, they initially pinned the crime on the Cuban mafia.

It wasn't until Erik confessed to his therapist that police apprehended the pair, putting them on trial in a televised court case that would become a national sensation.

While Lyle was represented by criminal barrister Jill Lansing, Erik's lawyer was prolific solicitor Leslie Abramson, who'd previously assisted in securing other killers a less charge of manslaughter.

Despite the formidable lawyers doing all they could to see the brothers freed, Lyle and Erik were subsequently sentenced to life.

Ryan Murphy's Netflix series and follow-up documentary

The brothers were jailed in 1994 (Ted Soqui/Sygma via Getty Images)

Despite having committed their crimes over three decades ago, the Menendez brothers began hitting headlines earlier this year when American Horror Story director announced that Lyle and Erik's case would be the subject of a follow-up instalment to his eerie Monsters series.

Within hours of the nine-part drama landing on Netflix, however, producers were accused of either exaggerating or totally fabricating aspects of the brother's case, while many continued to call for the pair's release.

The real-life Erik Menendez also accused the director of including 'blatant lies', as well as a 'vile' portrayal of his brother Lyle.

Netflix announced days later that it would be releasing a follow-up documentary which would hear the brothers discuss the realities of their case for the first time in over three decades.

And among the numerous contributors that viewers expected to make an appearance was Abramson, being that she'd been so vocal about the brothers' tragic sentencing at the time.

Leslie failed to appear in the show (Ted Soqui/Sygma via Getty Images)

Strangely, however, neither she nor Lansing wished to be interviewed for the one-off special.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ross Dinerstein - who directed the documentary - spoke on his verdict on the reason why the 81-year-old lawyer evaded the series.

"I definitely can’t speak for her, only because she’s just such a strong and brave woman for what she took on, in terms of the case at that time," he told the outlet.

"I’m very excited for her to watch it. I hope she watches this.

"She has notoriously never spoken out since the case. She said it was a valiant effort on my part to reach out to her and praised me for it, but ultimately, no. So I wish I could speak for her, but she’s a tough one."

The series does end with a short statement from Abramson, which reads: "Thirty years is a long time. I'd like to leave the past in the past."

She continued: "No amount of media, nor teenage petitions will alter the fate of these clients. Only the court can do that and they have ruled."