Where is Leslie Abramson now? Lawyer in Menendez brothers' trial
Abramson was a key figure in the brothers' trial.
The Menendez Brothers has soared up the Netflix top 10 as the documentary explores the story of the siblings who killed their parents in 1989, told completely through their own words.
Their crime and subsequent trials became a topic of conversation worldwide following the release of Ryan Murphy's Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, and now their story is being discussed further, with audio interviews from the pair for the first time in 30 years.
It also includes interviews with their cousin Diane Vander Molen and prosecutor Pamela Bozanich - but their defence lawyer Leslie Abramson is noticeably missing. While she was contacted about participating in the documentary, Abramson declined.
So, where is Leslie Abramson now, over 30 years since she defended the Menendez brothers?
Who is Leslie Abramson?
Leslie Abramson is a criminal defence attorney, who many will recognise and know from her role in the defence of Lyle and Erik Menendez.
She attended law school at UCLA before being admitted to the State Bar of California in 1970. She began her career in Los Angeles and worked at the County Public Defender's office for six years before joining a private practice.
Before she represented the Menendez brothers, Abramson was the defence lawyer for 17-year-old Arnel Salvatierra, who was acquitted of first-degree murder and convicted of the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter after shooting his father. Salvatierra was given five years' probation.
Beyond the Menendez brothers, Abramson represented music producer Phil Spector, before resigning from the case for "ethical" reasons.
Where is Leslie Abramson now?
Nowadays, Leslie Abramson has stayed out of the public eye and keeps a relatively low profile. As per The State Bar of California, Abramson's legal licence is no longer active.
Following the Menendez trial, Abramson published The Defense Is Ready: Life in the Trenches of Criminal Law.
While Netflix reached out to Abramson, she explained that she did not want to take part in the documentary.
In a statement provided, Abramson said: "Thirty 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."
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Authors
Katelyn Mensah is the Entertainment and Factual Writer for Radio Times, covering all major entertainment programmes, reality TV shows and the latest hard-hitting documentaries. She previously worked at The Tab, with a focus on reality TV and showbiz news and has obtained a BA (Hons) in Journalism.
