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This is a BIG DEAL ... the judge in the Menendez case says the new evidence unearthed in the murder case -- if true -- makes a compelling case to throw out their convictions ... which would mean they could be released even without a parole board hearing.

According to new court documents, obtained by TMZ, L.A. County Superior Court Judge William C. Ryan, has reviewed the 2 pieces of new evidence -- the first is a letter purporting to be from Erik Menendez to his cousin, Andy Cano, which would corroborate Cano's testimony about Jose Menendez molesting Erik.

The second piece of evidence -- a declaration from Roy Rossello, a former member of Menudo, who claims he was anally raped and orally copulated by Jose in either 1983 or 1984. This declaration, according to Menendez attorney Mark Geragos, shows the prosecution was off base in characterizing Jose as "not the kind of man" who would abuse his children. Also, the judge in the murder trial severely limited testimony about alleged sexual abuse.

Justin Baldoni says a judge shouldn't let Blake Lively dictate the terms of her deposition just 'cause she's super famous ... fighting back against her request to hold her depo in her own lawyer's office.

The actor's attorneys filed a response to Lively's Friday request that her upcoming deposition happen at her lawyer's office ... claiming she feared paparazzi would ambush her outside Baldoni's attorney's office.

In this new filing, he's calling BS ... arguing Lively hasn't given any evidence to back her point -- adding it's not an issue of cost since the two offices are only about a mile from one another.

Blake Lively wants a judge to set the location for her next legal skirmish with Justin Baldoni ... and she's not in favor of making it a public spectacle, as Justin's people proposed.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Blake is asking the judge to order her upcoming deposition to take place at her lawyer's office.

Justin's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, has suggested live streaming Blake's depo from the World's Most Famous Arena ... Madison Square Garden ... but Blake's making it clear here she's not on board with the farfetched plan.

5:05 PM PT -- Columbus Short was granted the temporary restraining order against his wife Aida.

Columbus Short makes it sound like his wife is not a dog person ... because he claims she kicked and threw a 10-week-old puppy before getting violent with him.

The ex "Scandal" star beelined it to court this week and filed for a temporary restraining order against his wife, alleging a series of domestic violence incidents involving him and the puppy.

In the docs, obtained by TMZ, Columbus claims his wife Aida roughed up his 10-week-old pooch on Monday ... and when he confronted her, she got physically violent and hit him multiple times in the face, busting his eye open and drawing blood.

Eric Rosenbrook -- a reality star formerly on "90 Day Fiancé" -- was arrested after he allegedly got drunk and slapped his wife on the Fourth of July.

The 47-year-old was arrested in Adams, Wisconsin ... and, according to the criminal complaint, the victim claims everything went down when Rosenbrook -- already a few drinks in -- decided to go pick up some food from the local Kwik Mart.

According to the alleged victim -- who police say identified herself as his wife -- she became worried when Eric didn't return promptly ... and spotted him passed out in his car outside the apartment.

7/11 7:39 AM PT -- Conner Smith has released a statement after his misdemeanor citation ... saying he's grieved and prayed for Dorothy Dobbins every day since he hit and killed her.

He's leaning on faith during this difficult time ... and, while he acknowledges he's put a pause on touring for a time, he doesn't say when he might get back onstage.

Country singer Conner Smith has been charged over a fatal car accident in Nashville, where the truck he was driving killed a woman in a crosswalk ... but he got hit with a misdemeanor offense, and not a felony.

Conner's attorney, Worrick G. Robinson IV, tells TMZ ... the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department issued Conner a misdemeanor state citation.

Robinson adds ... "Conner is incredibly grateful to the MNPD for their time and efforts to carefully investigate this tragic accident and has continued to cooperate at all times."

Chris Brown faced two new charges in a London assault case Friday morning ... pleading not guilty to two additional counts stemming from a violent altercation two years ago in which a man's head was smashed with a bottle in a nightclub.

The R&B singer arrived at London's Southwark Crown Court dressed in a brown suit Friday morning to plead not guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm, and not guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in a public place -- a tequila bottle.

This follows a court appearance last month when Brown pled not guilty to attempting to cause grievous bodily harm -- the most serious of the three counts -- in the same case ... Brown's accused of smashing the bottle over Abraham Diaw's head in February 2023 at TAPE nightclub.

"Boardwalk Empire" star Michael Pitt says the ex-girlfriend who accused him of sexual abuse had a rape and violence fantasy ... and he claims she even laughed about a time he tried to play along by sticking a finger in her butt while knowing she didn't like it.

Michael's attorney, Paul Townsend, is trying to get his bail conditions modified so he can travel internationally for work ... and just included a bunch of text messages in their legal papers, including one that appears to show the woman admitting to lying about certain allegations of sexual assault and violence.

Pitt was arrested in May and is now facing a 9-count indictment in New York, charging him with, among other things, assault, sexual abuse and strangulation based on alleged encounters from April 2020 through August 2021.

Ghislaine Maxwell is hopeful President Trump will review her case and pardon her ... after his DOJ's controversial announcement about the Jeffrey Epstein files this week -- but sources close to the President say there isn't a snowball's chance in Hell that'll happen.

A source close to Ghislaine tells TMZ … in the wake of the Trump admin's debunking of Epstein's so-called "client list" -- which some people had hoped would bring down various politicians and Hollywood celebs -- the British heiress and former Epstein partner is hopeful Trump will spring her from the joint.

We asked the White House if this is a legit option ... and we got a Hell No in return. A senior Trump official tells us ... there have been no discussions or considerations of a pardon for Ghislaine -- and there never will be.

A deranged Pennsylvania man says he executed and beheaded his own dad -- and then posted the grisly aftermath online -- all 'cause, according to him, his dad was standing in the way of his dream to become the next Donald Trump.

Justin D. Mohn took the stand in a Philadelphia courtroom Wednesday ... explaining how he clashed with his parents over politics -- and claimed he knew posting his 68-year-old father Michael Mohn’s severed head online would go viral ... which is exactly why he did it back in January 2024.

Justin also detailed the chilling moment the murder took place -- claiming he killed his dad as a "Plan B" after his dad resisted his attempt at a citizen’s arrest, accusing his father of treason and making false statements.

Diddy's criminal trial exposed the underbelly of the male sex work industry in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and beyond ... and now some male escorts who were hired by Diddy say they're fearful and worried about how they operate moving forward.

One sex worker connected to the Diddy case tells TMZ ... there's a fear in the industry regarding what happened with Diddy at trial and it's changing how he conducts business.

The guy tells us he's being extra cautious with new clients, and is doing a heavier screening process to guard against Johns who are big mouths on social media, or those who might be more likely to out a sex worker online.

Luigi Mangione looks like he's fitting in at the Brooklyn detention center where he's awaiting his murder trial ... because he's posing with some fellow inmates -- and his latest photo goes hard.

Check out this new pic of Luigi mugging for the camera in the yard at MDC Brooklyn ... he's crouching down in front of a brick wall, smiling and throwing up a shaka hand sign.

Luigi's got a watch on his wrist and he's wearing gray and white sweats ... with white socks and what appear to be loafers.

Doc Antle -- the ponytailed big-cat handler from "Tiger King" -- just got slapped with a 12-month prison sentence ... after pleading guilty in a wild case involving dirty money and illegal wildlife dealings.

The Myrtle Beach Safari owner admitted to laundering more than $500K in what he thought was part of a human smuggling op, and also copped to violating the Lacey Act -- which bans illegal wildlife trafficking.

Now, he’s not only doing time, but also has to fork over $55K, give up three chimps, nearly $200K in assets, and serve three years of supervised release once he's out of prison.

D.L. Hughley says justice was served in the Diddy criminal trial, but he's ripping folks for celebrating the verdict ... telling us it's a morally bankrupt response.

The comedian joined us on "TMZ Live" Tuesday, and we asked him about some of the favorable reactions to Diddy being acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges.

Folks outside the courthouse danced in the streets and poured baby oil on themselves when the verdict came back last week ... and D.L. says that's a horrible look.

Diddy is on a roll, legally speaking ... because he keeps racking up wins in court ... after outfoxing federal prosecutors, he's now dealing a major blow to one of his sexual assault accusers.

Here's the deal ... a woman named April Lampros sued Diddy last year, claiming he raped her multiple times in the 1990s -- but those allegations are no longer part of her lawsuit.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, the woman's claims for battery, sexual assault and negligent infliction of emotional distress have been dismissed.

Whitney Purvis has been placed on suicide watch at the Georgia jail where she's being held for involuntary manslaughter ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us the "16 and Pregnant" star was medically designated and committed within the jail system after making suicidal comments behind bars. Our sources say she's also undergoing a detox as she withdraws from drug use.

We broke the story ... Purvis was arrested Monday, accused of distributing a dangerous street drug known as "Tranq" -- a lethal mix of fentanyl and xylazine.