very close to, flew to los angeles, and he surrendered to authorities. >> would the defendants please rise? >> brothers lyle and erik menendez late this afternoon were brought into a beverly hills courtroom and told of the charges against them, both accused of murdering their father and mother, jose and kitty menendez. >> when i heard that the sons, their sons that they had raised with a silver spoon in their mouths, were the killers, i wasn't stunned. i was just disgusted. >> both brothers are being charged with both murders. we believe that both brothers were involved -- actively involved in the murders. >> both charges are official circumstances for which you could be sentenced to death. do you understand the charges? >> yes, your honor. >> it was extremely difficult for the menendez family to process the arrest of erik and lyle for the murders of their parents.