GUILTY CA - Fabio Sementilli, 49, renowned hairdresser, murdered in LA, 23 Jan 2017 *Arrests, 1 guilty* #2

[TwinkieDefense]

Thanks for the new sentencing date of 5/6 for Mr Austin @Niner. Despite his involvement, to me, he is remorseful for being involved in this debacle. Seems as though he carelessly followed the breadcrumbs to the bitter end, led by the evil friend. At least he was trying to do good when he was arrested.

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, May 6th:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 8:30am PT) - CA – Fabio Sementilli (49) (Jan. 23, 2017, Los Angeles) – *Christopher Austin (38/now 39) arrested (10/17/24), charged (10/18/24) & arraigned (12/16/24) with 1st degree murder with the special allegations of the use of a deadly weapon & charged (10/30/24) with conspiracy to commit murder. Plead not guilty (10/18/24 for murder & 10/30/24 for conspiracy). Plead not guilty. Bond $2M. L.A. County
L.A. County Deputy DA Beth Silverman. Defense attorney Leonard Levine.
Case & Court info from 10/17/24 to 12/16/24 reference post #18 here:
https://websleuths.com/threads/ca-f...-in-la-23-jan-2017-arrests-1-guilty-2.741932/
1/17/25 Update: Austin pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Friday & also agreed to testify against the lone remaining co-defendant in the cases. To point the finger at Sementilli’s merry widow Monica, who is scheduled to go on trial for first-degree murder on Tuesday. Austin will be sentenced on 4/30/25. He faces 16 years to life in prison.
4/30/25 Update: Sentencing hearing was reset on 5/6/25 @ 8:30am.
*Monica Sementilli (45/now 53) – Trial began on 1/27/25 & ended on 4/11/25 with a GUILTY verdict. Sentencing on 6/23/25.
*Robert Louis Baker (55/now 61 & sentenced) (wife’s BF) plead no contest/guilty on 7/7/23 & sentenced to life without parole.

 

[Snoopster]

Thanks for the new sentencing date of 5/6 for Mr Austin @Niner. Despite his involvement, to me, he is remorseful for being involved in this debacle. Seems as though he carelessly followed the breadcrumbs to the bitter end, led by the evil friend. At least he was trying to do good when he was arrested.

Yes, I found Christopher Austin remorseful during his trial testimony at Monica's trial, but he willingly went along to murder someone he didn't even know. Why?

Below is a Court TV Youtube link to victim impact statements from today's sentencing for Austin. The two Sementilli daughters focused on blaming Christopher AND voicing extreme dislike for the prosecution and the justice system. They said that Christopher Austin shouldn't have been given a deal. they also blamed the prosecution for letting one of their phone numbers get out in public and they became subject to hate messages for defending their mother.

But I found Fabio's niece's statement the most powerful of all. She, like the other victim impact statements, called out Christopher Austin for killing a stranger (i.e. not even rage-related) AND for hiding for 8 years.

 

[rebelchild]

Yes, I found Christopher Austin remorseful during his trial testimony at Monica's trial, but he willingly went along to murder someone he didn't even know. Why?

Below is a Court TV Youtube link to victim impact statements from today's sentencing for Austin. The two Sementilli daughters focused on blaming Christopher AND voicing extreme dislike for the prosecution and the justice system. They said that Christopher Austin shouldn't have been given a deal. they also blamed the prosecution for letting one of their phone numbers get out in public and they became subject to hate messages for defending their mother.

But I found Fabio's niece's statement the most powerful of all. She, like the other victim impact statements, called out Christopher Austin for killing a stranger (i.e. not even rage-related) AND for hiding for 8 years.

So sad. I felt empathy towards CA when he was on the stand and felt like he came across as being remorseful, but what Fabio's family said really hit home. He hid it for 8 years and would still be living his life as though nothing happened if he had not been caught.

 

[Niner]

Co-conspirator in prominent LA hairdresser's death sentenced to 16 years to life

Christopher Austin, 39, was sentenced on Tuesday to 16 years to life in prison for his part in the 2017 killing of Fabio Sementilli.

www.cbsnews.com

May 6, 2025
The third person connected to the 2017 Woodland Hills murder of famed hairdresser Fabio Sementilli was sentenced on Tuesday to 16 years to life in prison.

Christopher Austin, 39, pleaded no contest in January to second-degree murder in a plea deal reached with prosecutors.

 

[BrownRice]

I’m watching the sentencing right now. I found the daughters’ statements very sad. However, I feel their anger at the prosecution, and the world in general, is misplaced- needs to be directed at their mother.

 

[Snoopster]

I’m watching the sentencing right now. I found the daughters’ statements very sad. However, I feel their anger at the prosecution, and the world in general, is misplaced- needs to be directed at their mother.

I totally agree.

It doesn't seem uncommon for surviving children, where one parent kills the other, to defend the murdering parent. It's all they have left. That's why they defend their surviving parent and believe them so strongly, despite the evidence to the contrary.

Look at Chad Daybell's adult children. They defend him to this day despite the fact that the two children's bodies were found buried in his backyard.

I presume it is a mental health defense mechanism.

Of course some children turn against the murdering parent, but it's not a given.

 

[Luna20]

I’m watching the sentencing right now. I found the daughters’ statements very sad. However, I feel their anger at the prosecution, and the world in general, is misplaced- needs to be directed at their mother.

Agree! It may be self preservation to put all of the blame on them. That gives them the opportunity to release their raw initial rage on others and not their mother.

Whether or not they believe she is guilty, I don’t see them being real angry with her at least for now. I’m sure they feel bad about their mother being in prison, the life she is forced to live and what she will miss out on. That’s heavy.

 

[Curious Me]

Just a reminder, Monica Sementilli to be sentenced on Monday. Don't know if it'll be televised.

https://da.lacounty.gov/media/news/district-attorney-hochman-announces-guilty-verdict-murder-renowned-hairdresser-fabio

Sentencing for Monica Sementilli is scheduled for June 23 in Department 101 of the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center.​

 

[Luna20]

Just a reminder, Monica Sementilli to be sentenced on Monday. Don't know if it'll be televised.

https://da.lacounty.gov/media/news/district-attorney-hochman-announces-guilty-verdict-murder-renowned-hairdresser-fabio

Sentencing for Monica Sementilli is scheduled for June 23 in Department 101 of the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center.​

I wonder if we will see the fake faces she was making in court tomorrow. That was all for show to the jurors in hopes of convincing them that she wasn’t guilty. Maybe she will drop her bottom lip for the judge so he will feel sorry for her and give her the minimum sentence.

 

[Niner]

Monday, June 23rd:
*Sentencing Hearing (@ 8:30am PT) – CA – Fabio Sementilli (49) (Jan. 23, 2017, Los Angeles) – *Monica Sonia Crescentini Sementilli (45/now 53) (wife) arrested (8/18/17), indicted (8/31/17), charged (8/18/17) & arraigned (8/31/17) with capital murder with special circumstances of murder for financial gain & conspiracy to commit 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. Held without bond. DA will not seek DP. LA County
Jury Selection began on 1/21/25 & ended 1/22/25. 12 jurors (10 men & 2 women). Juror #2 was replaced by an alternate on 3/19/25. Juror #2 [new one] was replaced by an alternate on 3/20/25.
Jury Deliberations: Day 1 [4/9/25]: 10:15am to ~4pm [minus 1 hour lunch/~4 hours & 45 mins]. Day 2 [4/10/25]: 10am-4pm [minus hour lunch/~5 hours]. Day 3 [4/11/25]: 9:30am-9:45am/15 minutes. Total deliberations: 10 hours. CourtTV Verdict clock says deliberations 8 hours & 45 minutes. VERDICT REACHED!
VERDICT: GUILTY on all charges.
Trial began on 1/24/25 & on 3/12/25 Prosecutors rested their case. Defense began their case on 3/12/25 & rested their case on 4/2/25. Closing arguments began with the State on 4/3/25 & went thru Monday, 4/7/25 with defense closing on 4/7 & 4/8/25 with rebuttal closing by State.
Trial: 38 days of testimony with 44 state & 13 defense witnesses.
Superior Court Judge Ronald S. Coen. Deputy DA Beth Silverman, Ryan Heath Erlich, Dep. DA, Melissa Hannah Opper, Dep. DA, & Heather Joy Steggel, Dep. DA.. Defense attorneys Leonard Levine & Blair Bernholz Berk.
Court hearings from 6/5/18 thru 1/28/25 & Jury Selection Days 1-2 (1/21-1/22/25) & Trial Day 1-44 (1/24 & 1/29-4/10/25) & Verdict Days 1-2 (4/9-4/10/25) reference post #959 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...a-23-jan-2017-arrests-1-guilty.327994/page-48
4/11/25 Friday, Trial Day 45/Verdict Watch Day 3: Jury continues deliberate @ 9:30am PT & ended about 9:45am PT. Jury has reached a verdict. GUILTY on all charges. Sentencing hearing on 6/23/25.
*Christopher Austin (38/now 39) – Plead guilty on 1/17/25. Sentencing on 4/30/25 to 16 years in prison.
*Robert Louis Baker (55/now 63) (wife’s BF) plead no contest/guilty on 7/7/23 & sentenced to life without parole.

 

[TwinkieDefense]

Court tv shows sentencing scheduled for 11:30 am ET today.

 

[Niner]

Court tv shows sentencing scheduled for 11:30 am ET today.

And 6pm Eastern European Time
and 4pm England time

 

[geevee]

Court tv shows sentencing scheduled for 11:30 am ET today.

Yes, 8:30 a.m. Cali time, adjust for your own time zone. I wonder how lengthy it will be, looking forward to this being the last we'll see of her multitude of frowns, moues, and general fakeness.

 

[geevee]

Oh, meant to ask, we were on a half hour delay throughout the trial, does anyone know if the same applies to the sentencing?

 

[BrownRice]

Oh, meant to ask, we were on a half hour delay throughout the trial, does anyone know if the same applies to the sentencing?

Oh really? I didn’t know that. It’s 1134 est right now and it’s not started yet.

 

[geevee]

Don;t kno

Oh really? I didn’t know that. It’s 1134 est right now and it’s not started yet.

Yeah, trial days were delayed a half hour per judge's order, looks like it may be the same for sentencing. Here's the stream, looks like L&C are the only ones carrying it:

 

[geevee]

We're live!

 

[geevee]

Beth Silverman brought her submachine gun for the sentencing, just mowing MS down!

 

[TwinkieDefense]

Shoot! I missed the sub machine gun! Thanks for letting us know where to watch Monica/Madonna get her just desserts.