Noirdame79
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Skip E. Lowe, real name Sammy Labella (June 6, 1929 – September 22, 2014) was an actor, stand-up comedian, and celebrity talk show host. In the spring of 1989, he and actress Mamie Van Doren (born 1931) attended a black-tie event at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and were seated at a table with two other couples as well as the Menendez family. Lowe testified as a defense witness in the first trial. He stated that at one point, when Jose was talking to Van Doren, Erik turned to talk to the actress to talk to her, and Jose pinched Erik hard on his upper arm, and told him, "Shut up dummy!" Erik turned red and began playing with his food. According to Lowe, Lyle appeared to be embarrassed and his behavior seemed to Lowe as if this was something that happened before. Kitty was talking to another one of the couples at the table and didn't react to what had happened, and the impression that Lowe had of her was that she was "out of it". Lowe also stated that he and Van Doren were very uncomfortable and left soon after. On cross-examination, Pamela Bozanich insinuated that Lowe only agreed to testify because the trial was televised and wanted publicity. On re-direct, Lowe clarified, "I'm on television every day, I don't need to be here. I thought I had something to say."
This was a brief incident, witnessed not only by two people who had never met the Menendez family before but who were involved in show business. It seemed that at this point, Jose seemed to have no qualms about physically and verbally abusing his sons in public. He did think that he was above the law, IMO.