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Experts Reveal Danger In Being Obsessed With True Crime

True crime is an incredibly popular genre of film, television and podcasts, but experts say there is a possible danger of turning criminals into icons when we obsess over cases.

The hosts of the The Motive & Method podcast, criminologist Dr Xanthé Mallett and criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro, explained why people like true crime so much.

"People like true crime because they feel in control of the narrative," Watson-Munro said, adding that dressing up like 'killer icons' can be insensitive to those directly impacted by the crime.

Watson-Munro advised against dressing up like famous killers for Halloween, particularly as the Menendez brothers, Erik and Lyle, remain in the spotlight following a popular Netflix series and documentary.

"I think for some people, dressing up like this in some ways desensitises the community as to the horror of what's occurred," Watson-Munro said.

"That's not necessarily a good thing, by the way, but why do people want to do it? Because they find it interesting and exciting."

In the case of the Menendez brothers, resentencing has been brought to the table after the LA District Attorney recommended the brothers be given a sentence of 50 years to life, which would make them immediately eligible for parole.

They have served 34 years of their life sentence for the killings of their parents in 1989.

The date for the brothers' resentencing hearing has been set for December 11, 2025.

Mallett and Watson-Munro discussed how the re-evaluation of the case continues to fascinate the world.

"There's more evidence than there was previously, more witnesses have come forward to say that they do believe they were being abused, and that's really changed things around, hasn't it?" Mallett asked.

"[Monsters] may well have been sufficient for the District Attorney to revisit the evidence … He's satisfied that in all likelihood they had a defence, certainly a partial defence to homicide", Watson-Munro elaborates.

"It speaks to the power of true crime docu-series and movies, even decades after offending and convictions … The power of this stuff can't be overstated".