Law & Order True Crime : Season 1

When Lyle and Erik Menendez become prime suspects in the murder of their parents Kitty and Jose, tenacious defense attorney Leslie Abramson to take an interest in their case.

Erik makes a shocking confession to his psychiatrist, Dr. Jerome Oziel, whose mistress, Judalon Smyth, gives the police a pivotal tip. Leslie makes a move to represent the Menendez brothers.

With Lyle and Erik in custody for suspicion of murder, defense attorney Leslie Abramson works tirelessly alongside Jill Lansing to understand the motive that could drive two young men to commit such a heinous crime. Meanwhile, the prosecution puts Judalon Smyth on the stand to make a case for releasing Dr. Oziel's audio notes and tapes from his sessions with Lyle and Erik, despite standard doctor-patient privilege. The ensuing media circus - fueled by leaks from the District Attorney's office -

After admitting to the murders, Erik and Lyle begin to divulge details of the psychological and sexual abuse they suffered at the hands of their parents. However, a lack of tangible evidence to corroborate the claims leaves Leslie and Jill to wonder how they will convince a jury that the boys truly feared for their lives given the family's picture-perfect public persona. Meanwhile, Leslie makes a case for Dr. Oziel's tapes to be thrown out of court and Pam Ferrero faces increased pressure from

Judge Stan Weisberg grants a petition allowing the court proceedings to be broadcast on television, bringing a heightened level of public scrutiny to the case. When the prosecution’s star witness, Dr. Oziel, takes the stand, his questionable ethics and motives threaten to destroy his credibility. Meanwhile, the defense faces an uphill battle in getting Judge Weisberg to understand the relevance of Lyle and Erik’s complicated upbringing.

The jury hears from Lyle and Erik for the first time when the brothers testify in court, recounting in detail the years of sexual abuse that led them to fear for their lives. Leslie makes a surprising move after Judge Weisberg approves the prosecution’s request to unseal the tape of the brothers’ confession to Dr. Oziel. After closing arguments are made, the jury is left to determine a verdict.

With Lyle and Erik’s juries both struggling to reach a unanimous decision, the possibility of a mistrial leaves Leslie hopeful for the opportunity to work out a deal with the District Attorney’s office. Meanwhile, D.A. Gil Garcetti takes action to counteract the declining public perception of the justice system; and Judge Weisberg’s performance in the trial comes under intense media scrutiny given his record of hung juries and controversial verdicts.

In the finale, after the first trial ends with a hung jury and the district attorney refuses to offer the defense a deal, a second trial gets underway with Barry Levin joining the defense team. Political collusion between the D.A.’s office and Judge Weisberg reaches an apex as Garcetti fights to repair the office’s reputation. When Judge Weisberg disallows Lyle and Erik’s family members to testify, it’s up to Erik to once again recount the stories of abuse before the jury determines a