Man gets life without parole for brutal slaying of renowned Woodland Hills hairdresser

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A man has pleaded no contest in the 2017 killing of a renowned Woodland Hills hairdresser and beauty company executive.

Robert Baker was sentenced to life without parole in the brutal stabbing death of Fabio Sementilli, which he is accused of doing alongside the hairdresser's wife.

Sementilli's loved ones spoke and shared their grief at the courthouse.

"We miss him so much, I think about him every damn day," said Gessica Sementilli, the victim's daughter.

"For the last 6 years, my family has suffered a tremendously because two people found in their hearts the capacity to brutally murder someone we loved dearly," said Luigi Sementilli, the victim's son.

Baker was arrested and charged with the murder in June 2017. The victim's wife, Monica Sonia Sementilli, was also arrested and investigators said she and Baker were having an affair.

Baker sat and listened to his victim's loved ones as they petitioned the judge to give him the maximum, which he did.

"I realize that that will not mend the hearts of anyone. I am sorry, we are done," said Judge Ronald S. Coen.

Fabio Sementilli, 49, worked for decades as a trendsetting hair stylist and served as vice president of education for the beauty products company Coty, Inc.

He was found brutally murdered at his Woodland Hills home in January 2017. Investigators initially assumed it was the result of a home-invasion robbery but say later evidence pointed to the victim's wife and her lover.

Monica Sementilli's trial is scheduled to begin in September.

Will Robert Baker testify? His lawyer says he doesn't know.