'Real reason' Erik and Lyle Menendez went on shopping spree following murders
Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual assault and suicide which some readers may find distressing.
The eagerly-anticipated new true crime documentary, The Menendez Brothers, has finally dropped on Netflix.
Following the controversy surrounding Ryan Murphy's Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, those interested in the harrowing 1989 murder case were keen to hear both brothers revisit the trial that shocked the nation for the first time in 30 years.
In the doc, the brothers explain in their own words the 'real reason' why they went on a shopping spree after killing their allegedly abusive parents; Jose and Kitty Menendez. Check out the official trailer here:
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Lyle and Erik, who were just 21 and 18 at the time of the murders, have claimed that they didn't kill their extremely wealthy parents for their inheritance - pointing to the sexual abuse allegations as the motive.
Days after the killings, the brothers spent $15,000 on three Rolex watches, a jewellery saleswoman testified during their first trial.
Lyle then dropped $64,000 on a Porsche Carrera, while Erik splashed the cash on a new Jeep Wrangler.
That same year, Lyle put down a $300,000 deposit on a $500,000 restaurant in Princeton, New Jersey.
Deciding against a future at the University of California, Erik then forked out $50,000 for a tennis coach in the hopes of turning pro.
During their trial in 1993, prosecutors claimed the pair killed their mum and dad out of greed in order to receive the massive inheritance sum.
However, as we see in the brand-new documentary, the brothers claim this is far from true.
"The idea that I was having a good time is absurd," Erik said in a recorded phone call from prison.
"Everything was to cover up this horrible pain of not wanting to be alive."
Lyle added: "I was not enjoying myself as a playboy, that I was actually sobbing a lot at night, sleeping poorly, very distraught at times, and kind of adrift throughout this, all those months."
Elsewhere in the doc, Erik opened up some more about the toll the situation took on his mental health.
"One of the things that kept me from killing myself is that I was, I felt like I would be a complete failure to my dad at that point," he revealed.
The Menendez Brothers is currently available to stream on Netflix.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivors Trust for free on 08088 010 818, available 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3pm and 6pm-8pm Monday to Thursday, 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3pm on Fridays, 10am-12.30pm on Saturdays and 6pm-8pm on Sundays.
If you're experiencing distressing thoughts and feelings, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you. They're open from 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year. Their national number is 0800 58 58 58 and they also have a webchat service if you're not comfortable talking on the phone.
Topics: Menendez Brothers, US News, Crime, True Crime, Money, Netflix, TV And Film, Documentaries
Rhiannon Ingle