Kim Kardashian and Monsters star pay Menendez brothers visit in prison following release of Netflix show

Warning: this article mentions sexual abuse which some readers may find distressing.

Kim Kardashian knew exactly what she was doing by rocking up to the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility last week, where she was spotted by hoards of paparazzi.

Joined by Netflix newcomer, actor Cooper Koch, the reality star - who is currently training as a lawyer - is believed to have paid a visit to Lyle and Erik Menendez, with many fans hoping Kim might play a part in one day freeing the brothers.

The Beverly Hills duo have been behind bars since 1996, seven years after violently murdering their parents José and Mary Louise 'Kitty' Menendez by shooting them at their home a total of 16 times.

Following their arrest, the Menendez brothers claimed they'd acted in self-defence against their parents, alleging their father had been subjecting them both to emotional, sexual and physical abuse from the age of six, and that their mother had known but refused to help them.

The subsequent case became a national sensation after being televised, with both Lyle and Erik making heart-wrenching testimonies in the dock about their sadistic ordeals.

Following two lengthy trials, the brothers were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Earlier this year, however, it was announced that the Menendez brothers' harrowing tale of torture would serve as the inspiration for Netflix's brand new addition to the Monsters franchise, directed by Ryan Murphy.

The brothers were sentenced in 1996 (Ted Soqui/Sygma via Getty Images)

Since the series landed on the streaming service last week, however, the dramatic recreation has become the subject of vast scrutiny - including by the Menendez brothers themselves.

Over the weekend, Erik released a statement from prison imploring viewers to boycott the show and accusing Murphy as having included 'blatant lies'.

When Kim Kardashian was spotted entering the prison facility earlier this week, therefore - where she was joined by Cooper Koch, who plays Erik in the Netflix hit - fans were left full of questions about what the potential meeting might mean.

According to PEOPLE Magazine, Kim and Cooper visited the brothers to discuss the Green Space project - a movement arranged by the California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, which focusses on combating high recidivism rates by changing prison life so that it more resembles the outside world.

That didn't stop fans speculating about the nature of the meet-up, however, with many taking to Twitter to share their thoughts.

Kim was recently spotted visiting the brothers in jail (Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

"Kim Kardashian if you help get the Menendez Brothers out, I will take back every bad thing I have ever said about you," one joked online.

Another penned: "kim kardashian, get the menendez brothers out of prison. erik and lyle deserve to finally be free."

"The devil works hard but Kris K works harder. Really hope Kim is able to use her platform to free the Menendez Brothers," added a third.

Kim Kardashian announced her plans to train in law back in 2018, when she pledged to advocate for prison reform.

A year prior, mother-of-four Kim assisted in freeing grandmother Alice Johnson from her life imprisonment sentence, which she received for drug charges.

And in 2019, the SKIMS boss was part of the negotiations which saw the release of another low-level drug offender,