VAN NUYS : Judge Rejects Defense Request in Menendez Trial

A judge Monday rejected a defense request to drop special circumstance allegations that conceivably could put two Beverly Hills brothers on Death Row if convicted of killing their multimillionaire parents.

Erik and Lyle Menendez will continue to face allegations of lying in wait for their parents, Superior Court Judge Stanley Weisberg ruled.

The brothers were indicted on four criminal counts. The siblings allegedly fired 15 shotgun blasts at Jose Menendez, 45, and Mary Louise (Kitty) Menendez, 47, on Aug. 20, 1989.

The killings occurred while the couple was snacking on ice cream and watching a movie in the family room of their $4-million home.

If convicted, the brothers could be sentenced to death because the indictment accuses them of lying in wait for their victims and committing multiple murders.

Prosecutors allege that the brothers were motivated to kill their mother and father out of hatred and because they wanted to inherit a $14-million estate.

The judge had been expected to set a date during today’s lengthy session for jury selection to begin in the trial.

Instead, Weisberg ordered both parties to return to court March 29 for another pretrial hearing. He said he does not expect jury selection to get under way until May or June.