[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----MISS., CALIF.

[Rick Halperin]

June 26




MISSISSIPPI:

3 accused in child's death to appear in court Monday


3 Mississippi teenagers charged in connection with the shooting death of a 
6-year-old boy are scheduled to appear in court Monday.

Madison County Justice Court Judge Bruce McKinley will consider the case 
against 19-year-old Byron McBride and 2 17-year-olds, Dwan Wakefield and 
D'Allen Washington, deciding whether there is enough evidence to bind the case 
over to a grand jury. The men are currently jailed without bail.

The 3 are charged with murder in the May 18 death of Kingston Frazier. 
Investigators say his mother left Frazier sleeping in a running car when she 
went into a Jackson supermarket. The car was found abandoned hours later in 
nearby Gluckstadt, with Frazier dead from multiple gunshot wounds in the back 
seat.

Court papers obtained by The Associated Press show Wakefield told investigators 
after his arrest that McBride stole the car and shot Frazier. Another key piece 
of evidence that could be discussed Monday is whether investigators have found 
a gun they believe was used in the killing.

Family members of McBride and Wakefield have asserted their innocence.

McBride could face the death penalty. Wakefield and Washington are ineligible 
for the death penalty because they are 17, but are being charged as adults and 
could face life in prison without parole. Both were high school students at the 
time of their arrest.

Washington was under indictment for armed robbery charges in a separate 
incident at the time of his arrest.

Madison County District Attorney Michael Guest has said Frazier was shot in 
Madison County, but Washington's lawyer has questioned that, saying he believes 
charges should be filed in Hinds County, where the car and boy were taken.

Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith has said he intends to seek 
additional charges against the defendants in his county.

(source: Associated Press)






CALIFORNIA:

Pair charged with capital murder of Woodland Hills hairdresser


A woman and her lover were charged June 16 with killing her husband earlier 
this year in Woodland Hills, according to the Los Angeles County district 
attorney's office.

Monica Sementilli, 45, and Robert Louis Baker, 55, were each charged with 1 
count of murder in the death of hairdresser Fabio Sementilli, 49, with the 
special circumstance allegation that they carried out the crime for financial 
gain.

Prosecutors said Monica Sementilli and Baker were having an affair when they 
plotted to kill her husband.

On Jan. 23, Baker broke into the couple's home and stabbed Fabio Sementilli 
while he was sitting on the patio. Baker then stole the husband's Porsche, 
which was later found abandoned several miles away.

LAPD officers responded to the scene where they found Fabio Sementilli with 
injuries to his face, neck and chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The pair could face the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility 
of parole. A decision on whether to seek the death penalty will be made at a 
later date.

(source: Los Angeles Times)