Are Loaded News Today

I would tell the police, and that i would tell the family. >> reporter: then according to lyle, his father said something that sounded like a threat. >> he said we all make choices in life, son. erik made his, youve made yours. i thought we were in danger. >> reporter: and so the brothers drove down to san diego to buy the shotguns for protection, they said. two days later, said lyle, he and his father had another argument about the abuse after which lyle said his parents went into the den and s...

Wasnt making kind of decisions in a chaotic situation like that. but, you know, reflecting afterwards, you know, it haunts me. it -- it does haunt me. >> reporter: the other -- comment that would come up was, "well, they-- you know, they coulda just gone out and got in the car and driven away, you know? they-- they didnt have to do this." >> a person like my father is not going to allow you to just take something that will ruin his life that he has so carefully crafted. hes not going to. hes not...

Firing. >> in what direction? >> in front of me. >> what was in front of you? >> my parents. >> at some point was your gun empty? >> yes. could see somebody moving, seemed like moving in the direction of where my brother should be. >> reporter: lyle said he returned to the car, re-loaded, and ran back into the house. >> and what did you do after you re-loaded? >> i ran around and shot my mom. >> reporter: so did they act while in the mistaken belief they were defending their own lives? yes, said...

Against her cheek, and you pulled the trigger, did you love your mother? >> yes. >> and was that an act of love, mr. menendez? >> it was confusion and fear. >> you were afraid of her at that point? >> yes. >> they slaughtered their mother in a way that was so cruel she got up to run, and they went out, and they reloaded, and they put the gun up to her cheek, and blew her brains out. im sorry, that is the height of cruelty. >> reporter: whats more, observed reporter alan abrahamson -- >> lets cou...

>> yes. could see somebody moving, seemed like moving in the direction of where my brother should be. >> lyle said he returned to the car, re-loaded, and ran back into the house. >> and what did you do after you re-loaded? >> i ran around and shot my mom. >> so did they act while in the mistaken belief they were defending their own lives? yes, said the defense. a classic case of imperfect self defense. perfect nonsense, said the prosecutor. she grilled lyle on cross examination. >> when you put ...