A California judge gave Erik and Lyle Menendez, who were sentenced to life imprisonment for murder of parents at their home in Beverly Hills, freedom 35 years later.

Judge Michael Jesic shortened the brothers' sentences in prison without parole to 50 years of life. They are now eligible for parole under California’s Young Crime Law because they committed crimes under the age of 26. They still need approval from the state parole board to be released.

Their attorney said they were immediately eligible for parole, but they would remain in jail when deciding on parole status.

Jesus said, "I'm not saying they should be released; it's not for me to decide." "I do believe they have done enough in the last 35 years and should have a chance."

Erik and Lyle Menendez, 54 and 57, showed no obvious emotion in most testimony, as they appeared through live videos from the San Diego prison, but when one of their cousins ​​Diane Hernandez laughed, the court told the court that Erik Menendez had received + graduates during college in their recent classes.

The ruling blocked a one-day hearing where several relatives, a retired judge and a former prisoner testified in support of defense efforts to shorten the brothers’ verdict or at least qualify for parole.

The defense began calling Erik and Erik and Lyle's cousin Anamaria Baralt on Tuesday, who testified that the brothers repeatedly expressed remorse for their actions.

"We all believe 35 years is enough on both sides of the family," Bharat said. "They are generally forgiven by our families."

Another cousin, Tamara Goodell, said she recently took her 13-year-old son to meet with her brothers in prison and if released, the brothers will contribute a lot to the world.

The brothers were convicted of first-degree murder in the 1989 killing of José and Katty Menendez and sentenced to numerous life sentences of parole.

Their defense attorney said they feared their parents would kill them to cover up the years of sexual, psychological and physical abuse they suffered. Prosecutors portray the brothers as wealthy young men who long for millions of dollars in inheritance. Over the years, they repeatedly appealed their beliefs, but failed.

But support for brothers has increased significantly in recent years. Recently, their chances of release appear to be more promising than decades as they seek freedom through a variety of legal avenues, including through a new trial, given the new evidence of their father’s abuse, the governor’s leniency to the governor and the demands for litigation.

At the time of the murder, the brothers, 18 and 21, have long argued about their innocence, recently seeking freedom through multiple legal avenues, including the governor’s petition to the lawsuit, and the demands for a new trial based on new evidence of their father’s abuse. Their resentment hearings have been repeatedly delayed since January due to wildfires and disputes between defense and prosecution.

Los Angeles County prosecutors opposed the resentment, saying the brothers were not responsible for the crime.

"I killed my mom and dad. I have no excuses and no reason," Lyle said in a statement to the court on Tuesday. "The impact of my violence on my family...is incredible."

Progressive former Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón suggested being outraged by the brothers, which would be the door for them to release. He said he believed the brothers “experienced a lot of dysfunction and harassment, and his office handled cases differently because of a modern understanding of sexual abuse. He also pointed to the brothers’ recovery in decades of prison. In prison, Erik and Lyle earned college degrees and served as mentors and caregivers.

Current District Attorney Nathan Hochman inherited Gascón, quickly turned the course around and said he opposed the brothers' grudges. He believes the brothers are not fully responsible, and his office says it doesn't believe they are being abused.

With Hochman in the DA, prosecutors tried to withdraw their office's petition of resentment twice. Jesus ruled twice that despite opposition, the indignant hearing could continue.

Former Judge Jonathan Colby said he thought he was harsh in his crime. He met them during a series of prison visits.

"Like Erik and Lyle, I didn't encounter many prisoners," he said.

Former prisoner Anerae Brown testified how the brothers helped him recover and embark on the road to recovery, thus being released from prison.

He called the plan they launched as "University of Menandes."

“I have kids now,” he said. "I might still be sitting there doing stupid things without Lyle and Eric."

The Associated Press contributed to this report