Judge Bans TV From Menendez Trial

Television made Erik and Lyle Menendez household names during a 1993 trial on charges they murdered their wealthy parents to inherit the family fortune. A judge ruled Friday that it won’t happen again.

Judge Stanley M. Weisberg banned cameras and recording devices from the courtroom in the brothers’ second trial, saying he feared jurors might be influenced by the coverage if they see or hear it outside the courtroom.

The issue of cameras in the courtroom created controversy in the recently completed O.J. Simpson murder trial, prompting calls for bans from Gov. Pete Wilson and other state leaders.