CASE UPDATE: On April 11, 2025, a jury discovered Monica Sementilli, the spouse of famed hairdresser Fabio Sementilli, responsible of homicide for his 2017 dying by which he was crushed and stabbed of their Los Angeles house.
In 2017, Monica Sementilli had an enviable life — an expensive home with a pool and a Porsche within the driveway — in a fancy space of Los Angeles.
However after spending nearly seven years behind bars ready via authorized delays and COVID, she is scheduled to go on trial for the homicide of her husband, movie star hairdresser and wonder government Fabio Sementilli.
As “48 Hours” contributor Michelle Miller stories, it’s a tangled story. Her defenders say Monica Sementilli is an harmless sufferer. However should you imagine prosecutors, she’s a felony. Authorities describe a case of lust, greed, and homicide. Whichever it’s, the drama unfolded on Jan. 23, 2017.
Elyse Bleuel: There have been fireplace vans exterior of her home…and I used to be like, oh gosh … there was no police but. It was simply the primary responders.
Elyse Bleuel was a buddy of Monica Simental’s. “48 Hours” spoke together with her in 2018. She says Monica texted her to come back over the evening Fabio was killed.
Elyse Bleuel: it was her and her daughters … She simply saved saying that “he’s gone, that I’m not a wife anymore” … I simply held her. I simply held her.
Elyse Bleuel: It was so painful, simply the weeping…the not having the ability to breathe…she was past devastated… past devastated.
Monica’s husband, Fabio, was slumped over his chair by the pool.
Michelle Miller: Had you seen the physique? Had you seen?
Elyse Bleuel: Didn’t …
Elyse Bleuel: I simply needed to be the very best consolation. … I didn’t know learn how to consolation that. … she couldn’t converse in full sentences till just like the fourth day.
Detectives shortly discovered the sufferer, Fabio Sementilli, had been a famous person within the magnificence enterprise.
Mirella Rota
“48 Hours” spoke with those that knew him finest in 2017. Fabio’s sister, Mirella Rota
Mirella Rota: He was a contented man. And he needed all people round him pleased.
Luigi Sementilli: One of the simplest ways to explain my dad, actually, is sort of a cup of espresso within the morning.
Luigi Sementilli is Fabio’s son from an earlier marriage.
Luigi Sementilli: He will get you going … he lifts your spirits … he will get you decided to cost the mountain of life.
Michelle Miller: Did your folks say, “Hey Luigi, is that your dad?”
Luigi Sementilli: Completely, yeah. It was type of a enjoyable factor, you realize. … It’s arduous to keep away from him if you sort in Sementilli on Google, it’s very arduous … actually if you sort in my title, Luigi Sementilli, the very first thing that comes up is his profile! (laughs)
Fabio and his sister Mirella started slicing hair in Toronto, Canada.
That’s the place Fabio met Monica, a buyer and make-up artist he married in 1997.
Joe Mercurio: The marriage was unbelievable.
Restauranteur Joe Mercurio grew up with Fabio. He was finest man at Fabio’s wedding ceremony to Monica.
Joe Mercurio: We had been dancing proper to the very finish.
Mirella Rota: We noticed their relationship as a love story.
Fabio was additionally in love along with his profession — he and his sister Mirella had been getting well-known.
In 2008, Fabio was promoted to an government job on the magnificence big Wella and moved his household to L.A. Pete Castellano was Fabio’s colleague.
Pete Castellano: What occurred was was the chance … to actually enable the issues that he needed for his household to come back to life by taking up a much bigger function.
He and Monica settled right into a life most of us can solely dream about.
Michelle Miller: He drove a Porsche.
Mirella Rota: Yeah.
Michelle Miller: What man doesn’t desire a Porsche in Los Angeles?
Mirella Rota: You’re completely proper.
They had been dwelling the life and elevating their two teenage daughters, Gessica and Isabella.
FABIO SEMENTILLI (video): My circle of relatives unit is essentially the most most pricey to me.
Then got here that January day. It was late afternoon as he sat by the pool. Fabio was stabbed to dying. His then-16-year-old daughter Isabella found his physique.
To investigators, the Sementilli case began out a thriller. However from early on, that they had a minimum of one intriguing clue.
From a neighbor’s safety digicam, they might see two figures in hoodies working near the Sementilli’s home on the time of the homicide. A short time later, Fabio’s Porsche was being pushed away. Again then, Investigators didn’t suspect Monica had something to do with Fabio’s dying. She wasn’t even house on the time he was killed. As an alternative, they checked out these two hooded figures.
On the time of Fabio’s homicide in 2017, L.A was plagued with break-ins from infamous groups of criminals.
Michelle Miller (watching video of a knock-knock housebreaking): What do you name these guys?
Det. William Dunn: Properly, we name them the knock-knock burglars.
Michelle Miller: So, that is LAPD footage?
Det. William Dunn: Yeah. They know what they’re doing, and so they know what they need.
Michelle Miller: I imply… they’re working wild!
They had been hitting properties of celebrities throughout Los Angeles.
CRIME SCENE EVIDENCE LEADS TO A SUSPECT
It was 2017, and, for years, the properties of L.A. celebrities had been focused.
LOCAL NEWS REPORT: Not less than seven celebrities had tons of of 1000’s of {dollars}’ price of knickknack taken.
LOCAL NEWS REPORT: Excessive-profile victims embrace $300,000 from former Lakers star Derek Fisher, $175,000 for Nikki Minaj…and $2 million from Alanis Morrissette’s Brentwood house.
Det. William Dunn | LAPD (watching surveillance video of a knock-knock housebreaking): They’re transferring simply as fast as they’ll.
Det. William Dunn: Out and in in about three minutes … they ransack a bed room, discover some jewellery and get out.
William Dunn, a Los Angeles Police Division detective on the time, had hours of videotape of the knock-knock burglars in motion throughout rich Los Angeles neighborhoods, together with one from a house just some miles from Fabio’s, months after his homicide.
Michelle Miller (watching surveillance video of a knock-knock housebreaking): They appear to know what to search for.
Det. William Dunn: Proper, they’re searching for jewellery. They’re searching for money.
Michelle Miller: Take a look at him!
Det. William Dunn: Yeah, see he’s checking garments, he’s feelin the garments to see if anyone’s put jewellery or money in a number of the pockets.
Det. William Dunn: See? Now he’s seeing that protected.
Michelle Miller: Ah!
Det. William Dunn: See, and now he will get – he tells his buddy. Hey, take a look at what we’ve discovered. Now take a look at what number of seconds, and it is a actual heavy protected. … however they’re very decided … they put lots of effort into it and it’s so heavy he can’t – he can’t raise the factor. However take a look at how he’s simply gonna slide that factor out.
Michelle Miller: In order that they received the protected, that’s pay dust, and off they go.
Det. William Dunn: They’re gone. Yup! You see? They’re gone.
To detectives, these two hooded figures recorded on a neighbor’s surveillance digicam close to Fabio’s home proper across the time of his homicide regarded loads just like the knock-knock burglars.
And the Sementilli house had its personal cameras. Detectives hoped they might discover much more video of these hooded figures on these tapes.
There have been 4 cameras exterior the Sementilli home, however when police got here to search for the video, it was gone! A DVR was within the storage, it saved all of the surveillance. Whoever broke in will need to have taken it.
Unusually, in addition to taking Fabio’s Porsche, that black field was one of many solely issues stolen from the home, say investigators. Monica instructed them she thought some cheap jewellery and $11,000 in money was probably lacking, however she wasn’t certain. Detectives say the house protected hadn’t been touched.
Luigi Sementilli: The one factor I believed that was uncommon was why didn’t they take extra? Why didn’t they take his watch?
The suspected burglars left behind an $8,000 Rolex on Fabio’s wrist.
However inside months, the knock-knock burglars started to fade as police suspects as a result of the police had been hanging on to a giant secret. No person besides investigators knew it on the time, however they found blood on the crime scene that didn’t belong to Fabio Sementilli. That meant detectives had DNA to work with. DNA that ultimately led to a suspect.
Capt. William Hayes | LAPD: We had been in a position to develop forensic proof … a few of that was DNA, which recognized Robert Baker.
Randy Lam
Robert Baker had been a racquetball league director at a Los Angeles fitness center, not removed from Fabio’s home. And Monica’s buddy, Elyse Bleuel, knew him. “48 Hours” spoke to her about him in 2018.
Michelle Miller: How would you describe Rob Baker?
Elyse Bleuel: He was cool. All of us actually appreciated him.
Elyse Bleuel: He was a kind of fitness center guys — you realize, grrr!
Bleuel performed in his league.
Elyse Bleuel: He was very alpha. He was a really alpha male. There was additionally type of a sexual-ly factor about him.
Michelle Miller: There was one thing sexual about him. What do you imply?
Elyse Bleuel: You understand how some guys simply have simply have this sexual type of, I don’t know, he was very manly … he was in form, and he was type of, you realize, saved all the things — he was in cost.
He was additionally twisted up within the porn business, even doing a little performing.
Bleuel didn’t know a lot about Baker’s background, however she did hear about his film profession from a buddy who occurred to identify him in an grownup movie.
Elyse Bleuel: That’s just like the type of gossip that … you simply want to inform somebody.
Michelle Miller: Who did you inform?
Elyse Bleuel: I instructed Monica.
Monica was additionally in Robert Baker’s racquetball league.
Michelle Miller: What was her response?
Elyse Bleuel: Properly, it was fairly anticlimactic, I’ll inform ya.
Michelle Miller: Actually?
Elyse Bleuel: Yeah. ’trigger a lotta instances after we would have lady discuss she’d get just a little prude-y. Like just a little prude.
What Bleuel didn’t know was that Baker was additionally a registered intercourse offender.
Capt. William Hayes: Robert Baker has a 1993 conviction out of a Lengthy Seashore case. It’s for lewd and lascivious acts with a minor.
Police say Baker served time for that offense in opposition to a teenage lady.
For months, police watched Baker and so they found two issues. First, he was undoubtedly not one of many knock-knock burglars, and second, he made 1000’s of calls and texts to of all folks, Monica Sementilli.
The truth is, simply days after Fabio’s dying, Monica held a wake in her yard and Baker really confirmed up.
Michelle Miller: You probably did meet him?
Mirella Rota: I did.
Rota says she noticed Monica hanging out with Baker.
48 Hours
Mirella Rota: I noticed her again … exterior once more, with a drink, smoking, and speaking to this man. … I discovered that that was his title, Rob. And she or he launched me to him.
Luigi observed him, too.
Luigi Sementilli: Robert and Monica had been within the nook speaking to one another, form of away from the get together.
And there was one thing else Luigi observed about Baker.
Luigi Sementilli: He had bandages on his arms.
48 Hours
One visitor even snapped photos of Monica and Robert Baker collectively. For those who look intently, you may simply make out a bandage on Baker’s finger. Police would later conclude Baker lower that finger when he killed Fabio. And that’s how his blood was on the scene.
Detectives visited Monica at house utilizing what they known as a “ruse” — telling her they had been investigating the knock-knock burglars, when actually they had been investigating her and secretly following Monica and Baker. And based on authorities, it paid off. They are saying they discovered proof that Monica and Baker had been having an affair and conspired to kill Fabio.
JUSTIN EISENBERG | LAPD Chief of Detectives [to reporters in June 2017]: Over the previous a number of months, investigators have developed data and recognized Robert Baker, 55 years outdated of Canoga Park and Monica Sementilli, 45 years outdated, of Woodland Hills, who’s the spouse of our murder sufferer, as chargeable for his homicide.
Mirella Rota: He mentioned, “We arrested Monica for the murder of your brother, and Robert Baker for the murder of your brother.” And I used to be in shock. I’m like, “They’re — you sure?” You understand? I — I used to be in shock.
Mary Fulginiti: In keeping with the prosecution … these two had been plotting and planning to kill Fabio so they might stay their life collectively.
Mary Fulginiti is a former federal prosecutor and a “48 Hours” guide.
Mary Fulginiti: It was a really sophisticated investigation.
LAPD
As authorities hustled Robert Baker and Monica Sementilli into courtroom, they every pleaded “not guilty.” However nearly six years later, Baker modified all the things.
Mary Fulginiti: When he got here to courtroom that day, folks had been surprised.
ROBERT BAKER PLEADS NO CONTEST TO MURDER OF FABIO SEMENTILLI
Monica Sementilli was being accused of dishonest on Fabio with that racquetball coach Robert Baker after which—together with Baker— planning Fabio’s homicide.
Elyse Bleuel: My immediate and thorough and full response was there’s no effing means … I used to be there. She was decimated.
After months of crying and grieving alongside Monica, Fabio’s household couldn’t imagine it both.
Mirella Rota: Twenty-some years of my life she was like a sister. She was a cool aunt to my youngsters … she was loveable … my complete household felt that means about her (crying).
Then, in 2023, Baker skipped trial altogether and pleaded no contest.
Mary Fulginiti: Robert Baker pleads no contest. And that’s in essence accepting accountability for the homicide. He’s in the end sentenced to life with out parole.
KCBS/Pool
JUDGE RONALD COEN (in courtroom): The utmost sentence on this case is life imprisonment with out the potential of parole plus one 12 months. … You perceive this?
ROBERT BAKER: Sure, sir.
However whereas Baker was accepting accountability for Fabio’s dying, Monica wasn’t.
MIRELLA ROTA (in courtroom) : What he and Monica did to my brother, Fabio, is unforgivable.
However Monica’s personal daughters, Isabella and Gessica, supported their mother.
GESSICA SEMENTILLI (in courtroom): We are going to proceed to face by our mom as we’ve performed for the final six years, and we are going to combat for her innocence.
As Monica ready to go to trial, her protection lawyer Leonard Levine made a press release.
LEONARD LEVINE: We’re assured that Robert Baker’s responsible pleas and his truthful testimony will lastly set up as soon as and for all that Monica Sementilli had nothing to do with the planning or the homicide of Fabio Sementilli, her husband.
Monica’s protection workforce wasn’t answering questions earlier than trial, so “48 Hours” requested New York-based protection lawyer Julie Rendelman to overview Monica’s protection workforce’s pre-trial motions.
Julie Rendelman: There’s no witnesses that we all know of to date which are going to come back ahead and testify that she deliberate this homicide.
Monica Sementilli/Instagram
She says Monica’s relationship with Baker doesn’t show something.
Michelle Miller: It appears to strengthen the DA’s case that not solely did she have an affair, however the particular person she was having the affair with is the killer.
Julie Rendelman: I hear you, however the issue is — is that just because a person is having an affair, the — you can not take the leap to get to a person being accountable, um, for the dying of their liked one, actually not past an inexpensive doubt.
However the prosecution says the affair is essential to establishing a conspiracy between Monica and Robert Baker — an alleged conspiracy detectives spent months monitoring.
Michelle Miller: How lengthy was that investigation?
Mary Fulginiti: 5 months. 5 to 6 months.
Whereas the DA additionally declined an interview earlier than going to trial, former prosecutor Mary Fulginiti reviewed the case in opposition to Monica.
Michelle Miller (exterior the Sementilli’s house): So, that is the scene of the crime?
Mary Fulginiti: Yeah … You understand, that is the place the 2 joggers, you realize, got here based on the video from a neighbor, uh, working up right here towards the home.
Prosecutors say that first hooded determine — within the inexperienced sweatshirt— is Robert Baker.
Michelle Miller: So, what about that confederate?
Mary Fulginiti: We don’t know who that particular person is. … it’s a thriller.
Michelle Miller: What does this indictment say about Monica Sementilli?
Mary Fulginiti: This indictment is a really detailed define and timeline of the plot to kill Fabio Sementilli.
Mary Fulginiti: Motive right here is easy. I imply, that is love and cash. This is likely one of the oldest crimes within the ebook the place, you realize, two lovers desperately desirous to be collectively, and so they attempt to eliminate one of many spouses to allow them to be collectively for what? For monetary profit. … And that might imply the three quarters of 1,000,000 life insurance coverage coverage, the home, 401ks.
Police say the plan was to stage the scene to make it seem like the work of the knock-knock burglars and throw police off their path. And so they imagine Monica was deeply concerned.
Mary Fulginiti: They imagine … she was the one which coordinated all the things, the one which confirmed him, you realize, the place the home was, the place the DVR was, in order that he knew the place to go to tear it out of the partitions. The way to get into the home.
And that’s not all. The prosecutor says six months earlier than the homicide, Monica forwarded an electronic mail sharing particulars of her house safety system with Baker.
Mary Fulginiti: She offered the password, the username, the log in credentials, in addition to the consumer guide to Robert Baker, the identical day that she acquired it from the surveillance firm.
After which there’s the day of the homicide. Prosecutors say Monica’s conduct that day is a key component of her function within the conspiracy to kill Fabio. In keeping with prosecutors, surveillance video exhibits Monica left house at 3:26 p.m. driving the household’s black Ford F-150 pickup.
Michelle Miller (standing in a Goal car parking zone): That is the place she got here, based on prosecutors, to ascertain her alibi?
Mary Fulginiti: So, loads occurs on this car parking zone. … she pulls in right here in her Ford-150 pickup truck proper in entrance of this retailer … stops for just some minutes.
Prosecutors say they’ve video the place it seems a person will get into Monica’s truck. They are saying that particular person was Robert Baker. Monica then goes alone into the Goal retailer and begins procuring. However as she leaves, prosecutors say this surveillance picture exhibits her fixated on her telephone.
They might inform a grand jury it seems she was streaming video from her house — lots of it.
THE EVIDENCE AGAINST MONICA SEMENTILLI
So what was Monica Sementilli watching on her telephone that afternoon at in regards to the time her husband was being murdered?
Mary Fulginiti. The telephone information and knowledge present that she’s connecting to a singular IP deal with. … It occurs to be the IP deal with of the home. And there’s a considerable amount of knowledge that’s being consumed. And that giant quantity of information is in keeping with video streaming, i.e, the surveillance video of the home.
Surveillance video? In keeping with the DA, it may need been video from her house safety cameras.
However may Monica have been watching the precise homicide?
Mary Fulginiti: No… The surveillance cameras in the home are — are going through exterior, however they’re not going through within the pool space, which was the place Fabio was positioned on the time. So, they didn’t really seize the homicide, however they might seize clearly who was coming and going.
Los Angeles County Superior Courtroom
Monica may have been watching all the things else, prosecutors say.
Mary Fulginiti (with Miller within the Goal car parking zone): They’re going to argue … she’s watching the scene, the scene of the crime to see the comings and goings of when Baker and the confederate are going into the home, when are they leaving the home in order that she is aware of when she will be able to go away right here and go house.
Prosecutors say whereas she is watching the feed, Baker and his confederate had been on the Sementilli property stalking Fabio.
Mary Fulginiti: In keeping with the prosecution, “it was a very targeted attack that was done with the intent to kill.” In addition they go on to say that “he was stabbed in the neck, it cut his jugular vein, cut the carotid artery.”
And there’s extra proof of the plot to kill Fabio. Prosecutors say Baker was planning a future with Monica.
Mary Fulginiti: The DA says that about two months earlier than the homicide, Baker instructed a buddy that he had been courting this lady for a few 12 months, and that he despatched an image of that lady, and that lady was Monica.
Mary Fulginiti: After which two months later Fabio was killed.
Authorities additionally say Monica’s conduct after the homicide is suspect. She didn’t transfer her teenage daughters out of the home or have her safety system repaired.
Mary Fulginiti: And the prosecutors argued that the explanation why she had no concern, as a result of she knew who the killer was, and she or he was with him.
Mary Fulginiti: This can be a lady who’s pretending to be a grieving widow and making all these posts on social media.
Mary Fulginiti: Who on the similar time is carrying on a torrid love affair with the person who really killed her husband.
Prosecutors made express pictures public in courtroom filings. Some we will’t present you. They are saying its proof the secretive romance continued after Fabio’s dying.
Los Angeles County Superior Courtroom
Mary Fulginiti: I imply, that’s a double life. … The D.A. introduced {a photograph} of Monica and — and Baker to the grand jury. And it was {a photograph} of Monica really grabbing his crotch. … And this was one, uh, that was taken in Vegas.
Michelle Miller: There was additionally this — this picture of a mirror.
Mary Fulginiti: Proper. … it was a photograph of the again of Monica … with Mrs. Baker, uh, written lipstick on the mirror.
Michelle Miller: The … lipstick and the mirror … What — what does that inform them?
Mary Fulginiti: Once more, this all goes to motive. I imply, Mrs. Baker … she needed to be Mrs. Baker.
However when detectives requested Monica about Robert Baker, prosecutors say she instructed them she wasn’t even certain of his final title. They are saying she additionally instructed them she wasn’t certain learn how to work the house safety cameras.
Mary Fulginiti: To cite the prosecution right here, they are saying, “She’s a liar, she’s a manipulator, she’s a cheater. And everything that comes out of her mouth has to be taken with a large grain of salt large enough so that you could choke on it.”
Mary Fulginiti: If they’ll present that Monica lied about her life-style, in regards to the affair, about quite a lot of different issues, that they’ll persuade the jury that she’s additionally mendacity about her involvement on this conspiracy to kill Fabio.
And so they say when she was later confronted about why Baker’s blood was present in her home, she continued to lie.
Mary Fulginiti: She comes up with some cockamamie story about, you realize, taking part in racquetball with Baker and hitting him within the finger and that it was bleeding and there was a bloody towel and she or he needed to deliver it house and — and that’s why his blood was on the home.
However Fulginiti says one of many largest items of proof in opposition to Monica is what occurred when police got here up with a plan to secretly file the couple. It started once they pulled them over as they had been driving.
Mary Fulginiti: It’s a ruse by the police. … They are saying that they suppose the automotive that they’re in is stolen and so they needed to, you realize, simply test it out and you realize, in all probability isn’t and so they handcuff them per protocol, put them into the police automobile. However what they don’t know is that automobile’s wired and that there’s a van up the road with police in it listening to their each phrase. And it’s at that time, Monica says, and I’m gonna quote right here: “Somebody must have talked. Somebody is doing this to us.” After which she mentioned, “They must have something. They must have something.”
Mary Fulginiti: That’s fairly damning proof. … as a former prosecutor that’s near an admission to being concerned on this conspiracy.
In keeping with detectives, Monica was additionally recorded telling her cellmate, “He’s not just my lover … he’s my confidante … he’s my everything.”
Detectives additionally intercepted letters Monica wrote to Baker from behind bars saying, “I’m always amazed how we both know what the other is thinking. DESTINED!” And “I miss you so much my love!”
Mary Fulginiti: If you take a look at these items within the totality, it’s going to place collectively a reasonably excellent puzzle right here. And the puzzle will paint this image that Monica conspired with Baker, that he didn’t do it alone, that they did it collectively.
However Monica’s defenders say the case in opposition to her is flimsy, and so they say Baker did it with out her.
Julie Rendelman: Robert Baker might have killed him as a result of he needed him out of the way in which. Perhaps he did it as a result of he hoped that by killing him, he would get Monica to himself. … That in and of itself doesn’t set up that Monica was in on the homicide.
DEFENDING MONICA SEMENTILLI
Monica Sementilli’s protection is adamant she had completely nothing to do with Fabio’s homicide.
Julie Rendelman: The protection’s place is that there isn’t a arduous proof, really no proof that establishes Monica Sementilli participated in conspiracy.
Fabio Sementilli/Fb
And should you can’t show a conspiracy, you may’t show Monica’s guilt says Rendelman.
Michelle Miller: The sheer variety of circumstances that appear to weave collectively— the car parking zone assembly … the strolling into the shop and watching video that has streamed stay from the house … the password being given to the killer … all of these issues, the sum of them, wouldn’t a jury imagine is simply an excessive amount of of a coincidence?
Julie Rendelman: Clearly, I can’t reply for what the jury is gonna say. Um, the protection, I may promise you, goes to aim to poke holes — holes in each single piece of proof you simply spoke about.
Michelle Miller: So, let’s go step-by-step … the sharing of that password for the surveillance video.
Julie Rendelman: So, there isn’t a query that she shared the password.
However Rendelman says there’s no connection between sharing that password and a homicide plot.
Julie Rendelman: There’s completely no proof between the six months that she shared it and the day he was killed, that establishes there was any plan in place between them in anyway to have her husband killed, not a textual content, not an electronic mail, not a dialog together with her finest buddy saying she’s over her relationship.
Julie Rendelman: The second situation is, there’s completely no proof that Robert Baker downloaded the app or ever even used the app.
Michelle Miller: Let’s discuss in regards to the actions within the car parking zone the day of the homicide. … somebody seems to be entering into the automotive.
Julie Rendelman: Preserve a pair issues in thoughts. One is from the protection’s perspective … the video footage is so grainy you could’t make out who if anyone is entering into Monica Sementilli’s automotive.
And what in regards to the allegation that she was watching video of the home because the homicide passed off?
Michelle Miller: As soon as she went contained in the Goal — there was a time limit the place she appeared fascinated, fixated on her telephone.
Julie Rendelman: Properly, I’ll let you know one factor. The prosecution doesn’t know what she was watching on her telephone. They can’t articulate nor will they ever be capable to articulate what was occurring in that telephone.
Michelle Miller: But it surely was being streamed from her house.
Julie Rendelman: She might be watching a present, similar to any considered one of us watched your present whereas we’re strolling alongside.
Michelle Miller: The prosecution actually digs in on Monica’s character, the truth that she’s having an affair.
Julie Rendelman: Properly, let me quote what the protection says in —with reference to that. “The prosecutor’s evidence of Ms. Sementilli’s affair and specifically the sexist and lurid manner in which it was presented … was irrelevant, improper and unfairly prejudicial to Ms. Sementilli.”
Julie Rendelman: They go on and say, “the sexual and romantic details of their affair were simply irrelevant to the question, whether they conspired to murder Fabio Sementilli.”
However then why misinform investigators — allegedly saying she was uncertain of Robert Baker’s final title?
Julie Rendelman: The query turns into, why is she mendacity? Is she mendacity as a result of she dedicated a homicide or is she mendacity as a result of she has been in a tryst with somebody for fairly some time and doesn’t need the world to know significantly, legislation enforcement?
Prosecutors did discover it suspicious that on the evening Fabio died, Monica was already inquiring about his life insurance coverage. However Rendelman says it’s not odd.
Julie Rendelman: I perceive, um, the way it may look insensitive to start out asking a few life insurance coverage coverage so quickly after. However should you’re, uh, a person that’s not financially sound, you could have two ladies at house, you could have probably a mortgage to pay, you could have payments to pay, you will be frightened in regards to the monetary safety of your loved ones.
CBS Information
And are available trial, says Rendelman, what might actually assist Monica is that she received’t be tried with Baker. The jury won’t see the person who dedicated the precise homicide on the protection desk subsequent to Monica. And that would make the case more durable for prosecutors, says Fulginiti.
Mary Fulginiti: The truth that he’s her lover and the killer, the one which the DNA’s round the home, I imply that — there’s a spillover impact. And that every one would’ve, you realize, probably impacted, I feel, the jury on this case. And he’s not there.
Michelle Miller: Would you say it was his final reward to Monica?
Mary Fulginiti: Yeah, I’d ’trigger there’s completely no different purpose for him really to plead straight up, with none actual plea cut price right here, to life with out the potential of parole, besides I assume his final murderous chivalrous act.
But it surely appears Baker might have an excellent greater affect on Monica’s case. “48 Hours” went to see him in jail, and he instructed us Monica had nothing to do with the homicide of Fabio and she or he by no means knew that he was Fabio’s killer. Baker additionally instructed us that he’s not in contact with Monica and he has not determined if he’ll testify.
One other issue that would assist Monica, says Rendelman, the daughters Monica shared with Fabio are standing behind their mom.
Julie Rendelman: And so, there’s an argument to be made that the jury is trying on the daughter saying, “if they believe her after all this, shouldn’t we?”
As for Monica herself, she’s by no means spoken publicly – besides at a memorial for her deceased husband.
MONICA SEMENTILLI (video from Fabio’s memorial): How fortunate am I to have lived the best love story of all time. A narrative that folks solely examine. A narrative that films are made from. Thanks a lot.
Produced by Chuck Stevenson. Greg Fisher is the event producer. Gabriella Demirdjian and Hannah Vair are the sector producers. Michael Baluzy, Grayce Arlotta-Berner, Wini Dini and Chris Crater are the editors. Patti Aronofsky is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the manager story editor. Judy Tygard is the manager producer.
