The Los Angeles County district attorney recommended Wednesday that Lyle and Erik Menendez, the brothers known for the 1989 shotgun slayings of their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion, be resentenced.

District Attorney George Gascn announced at a news conference that his office would be recommending that the brothers, who are currently serving a life sentence without parole, be resentenced to 50 years to life. However, because they were under 26 years old at the time of the killings, they will be eligible for parole.

Lyle was 21 and Erik was 18 when they shot Jos and Kitty Menendez in the familys living room.

The timeline for the brothers potential release from prison is uncertain, Gascn said, but he believes that after nearly 35 years in prison, they have paid their debt to society.

Gascns announcement came amid a groundswell of advocacy for the brothers, who admitted they killed Jos and Kitty Menendez but said they acted in self-defense after enduring years of physical and sexual abuse by their father. Their supporters, including their close relatives , believe that were they tried today when society has a better understanding of child sexual abuse and trauma they would have received a lighter sentence than life without parole.

Only a judge, not the district attorney, can resentence the men, Gascn noted. He added that members of his office are vehemently opposed to resentencing and said they have a right to express their opinion to the judge in court.