The star witness against accused black widow Monica Sementilli testified that her lover told him she wanted her husband “gone.”
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Monica Sementilli, 52, is charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy in the death of her 49-year-old husband, Fabio Sementilli.
The trial in Los Angeles Superior Court has entered its fifth week after years of delays.
The prosecution said that Monica and her former porn star boyfriend, Robert Baker, 61, had been carrying on an affair for 18 months. They have argued that sex and Fabio’s whopping $2.3-million insurance policy were the motives.
Fabio — a famed Toronto hairstylist and vice president of Wella — was stabbed to death on the patio of his Woodland Hills home on Jan. 23, 2017. Six months later, Baker and Monica were arrested after detectives uncovered their affair.
DNA at the crime scene tied convicted sex offender Baker to Fabio’s murder — and his widow.
While Baker pleaded no contest last July and was sentenced to life in prison, the third alleged conspirator, Christopher Austin, was arrested in October and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in January.
Monica Sementilli has denied any involvement in her husband’s murder.
Austin testified for the second day on Wednesday. Monica’s lawyer demanded to know if his client was involved in the plot to murder her husband. Austin said he never communicated directly with Monica, everything came through Baker.
He testified that Baker told him that “his girl” was in an “abusive relationship.” Baker said she “did not like her husband (Fabio Sementilli) and wanted him gone.”
Later, Baker told Austin it was for the insurance money.
Austin said cops and prosecutors never offered him a deal to squeal on Monica. But cops say he provided crucial information.
On Monday, Austin testified that he and Baker tried to kill Fabio the day before his murder. He said Monica texted Baker that she was sending her husband to the store but that plot came off the rails and the beauty executive got one more day to live.
In addition, he testified that he did meet Monica once and she took him and Baker on a tour of the Sementilli home after they played racquetball at a nearby LA Fitness. She also fed them pizza.
The trial continues.
@HunterTOSun