Monica Sementilli has been handed a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the murder of her husband, renowned LA hairdresser Fabio Sementilli, in a case that reveals a calculated conspiracy for financial gain and extramarital entanglement, CBS Los Angeles reported. On January 23, 2017, Fabio, a prominent figure in the hairstyling world, was found stabbed to death at their Woodland Hills residence, a gruesome end occurring shortly before what would have been the couple's 20th anniversary.
Joining Monica in a life sentence is her lover Robert Baker, aged 63, who was also implicated in the murder and received his incarceration terms after pleading no contest to the charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy, FOX 11 has detailed; their illicit relationship reportedly persisted through jailhouse communications, which prosecutors suggested substantiated the depth of their conspiracy. A third co-defendant, Christopher Austin, accepted a plea deal for second-degree murder and is serving a 16-year to life sentence, amidst strong backlash from the Sementilli daughters who've decried the leniency of Austin's deal, in emotional courtroom testimonies calling for justice and grappling with a double loss and betrayal within their immediate family.
Describing the layers of deceit woven into the fabric of this case, Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman argued the attack on Fabio was one of ambush, involving meticulous planning by Monica Sementilli and her paramour, Baker, as she contended during powerful closing arguments, ABC7 shared. The couple's daughters, Gessica and Isabella, expressed profound disappointment with the criminal justice system and Austin's agreement in particular, detailing their inexorable grief not only over their father's loss but also over the incomprehensible involvement of their mother in the crime, as they maintained her innocence throughout the trials.
Baker, during the trial, claimed sole responsibility for the planning and execution of Fabio's murder, saying, "I murdered him (Fabio Sementilli) because I wanted her," insisting Monica played no part in the sinister plot, despite the prosecutions' arguments and evidence to the contrary including Baker's revealing testimony and Austin's acknowledgement of Monica's wishes regarding her husband, as KTLA cites. Heartbreaking statements from Fabio's family, including his daughters and sister Mirella, voiced in court, underscored the enduring impact of the heinous act, with Mirella stating that her family will never forgive Austin's participation and silence. Monica Sementilli has remained behind bars since her June 2017 arrest, serving a life sentence without parole for the murder she orchestrated against her husband, a hair stylist to the stars whose legacy is now overshadowed by a sordid tale of deceit and greed.
