Monica Sementilli Pretrial Hearing, Case Update 1

 The previous post can be found HERE.

 August 1, 2023

There was a pretrial hearing in Dept. 101, Judge Ronald Coen's courtroom for Monica Sementilli. I did not attend but I was able to obtain an update from a reporter who attended the proceedings. 

The case will be delayed until April of 2024. The only possibility of the trial happening sooner is if another case on Judge Coen's calendar is pushed forward in time.  Then the Sementilli case could take it's place.

It appears Monica's defense team informed Judge Coen that Monica's convicted, former co-defendant, Robert Louis Baker will testify at her trial that she had nothing to do with the murder.

Monica Sementilli is charged with first degree murder in the stabbing death of her husband, Fabio Sementilli.

More to come...

Monical Sementilli Pretrial Hearing 17

The previous post can be found HERE.
July 14, 2023 

Last week, Robert Louis Baker pled "no contest" to all charges and was sentenced by Judge Ronald Coen to life without parole.

There was a pretrial hearing in the Monica Sementilli case on Friday. I did not attend this hearing but I was able to get an update on what happened in Department 101 on the 9th floor.

Because of Baker's plea, defense tells the court they want a continuance in the case to "re-strategize". The court agreed that this new development creates a complexity for the defense. There was a strong objection from the prosecution team.

The reality is, Judge Coen's calendar is booked solid. Judge Coen offered the parties October 2nd this year or April 2024. There was a tentative agreement to the October 2nd date. The next pretrial hearing is slated for August 1st. At that hearing, the defense will inform the court about their "readiness" for trial. If the defense still feels they are not ready, then the trial date will move to April. The only other possibility for an earlier date is if one of Judge Coen's other cases falls and gets pushed forward.

The next post can. be found HERE.

Robert Louis Baker Pled No Contest In the Stabbing Death of Fabio Sementilli

The previous post can be found HERE.

Edited for clarity 7/9/23 - Sprocket

July 7, 2023

 Fabio Sementilli
Source: Hair Talk

Two days ago, I had been given a courtesy heads-up that today, Robert Louis Baker would be making an open plea to all charges in the death of Fabio Sementilli. I was unable to go to the plea hearing because I had an oncology appointment this morning. My health has to come first. 

Baker pled "no contest" to first degree murder and three enhancements: 1)conspiracy to commit murder; 2)murder for financial gain; 3)using a knife. After family impact statements were made, Baker was immediately sentenced to life without the possibility of parole by Judge Coen. 

Monica Sementilli was not in court for this hearing but according to a People Magazine story, her defense attorney, Leonard Levine spoke to the press implying that Baker will testify and that testimony will exonerate his client.

Sources tell me the prosecutors, DDA's Beth Silverman and Ryan Erlich made no statement in court today. It is my understanding that by pleading "no contest" to the court, Baker has made no agreement with the DA's office to assist them in the prosecution of any other co-conspirators.

Monica Sementilli is now facing first degree murder charges alone. Her trial is slated to start in September of this year. It remains to be seen if Baker will testify in Sementilli's upcoming trial.

The next post can be found HERE.
Other Media Reports
ABC News

LA Times

Daily News (via City News Service)