'The stupid b— deserves to die': Man who shot fiancee in the face at the Olive Garden is headed to prison — despite her testifying in his defense

A Michigan antheral who was convicted of shooting his fiancee in the face astatine an Olive Garden successful 2024 was sentenced to astatine slightest 20 years successful prison.

Robert Monit, 42, was recovered blameworthy by a assemblage of 10 felonies and 1 misdemeanor successful transportation with a shooting astatine the Italian concatenation edifice connected June 2, 2024. His unfortunate was his fiancee, 42-year-old Melissa Guerra, who aboriginal testified successful his defense, claiming the shooting was accidental. However, witnesses astatine the Midland, Michigan, country testified they saw Monit onslaught Guerra. One edifice patron heard him scream, "The anserine b— deserves to die" earlier helium bushed her with the gun.

Love existent crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to get the latest real-life transgression stories delivered close to your inbox.

Midland County Circuit Court Judge Michael Beale sentenced Monit connected Wednesday to 20 to 35 years successful prison. His convictions included battle with intent to murder, aggravated home assault, six counts of assaulting/resisting/obstructing a constabulary officer, and different firearm-related felonies, positive a misdemeanor charge, tribunal records showed.

Monit changeable Guerra successful the face, with the slug hitting her near receptor and exiting done her close eye.

The Midland Daily News reported from the courtroom for the trial, which included grounds from Midland Police Department officers who arrested Monit aft the shooting. Officers testified that Monit said his sanction was "Satan" and cursed, bit, and spat astatine them, each of which was caught connected assemblage camera.

More from Law&Crime: Man 'coincidentally' ran into girlfriend's ex astatine edifice past 'accidentally' changeable him: Police

Other witnesses included edifice patrons. Erna Nash, who was having meal astatine the Olive Garden with her sister and nephew, testified that she saw Monit with the weapon and saw him occurrence it. She said, "I thought it was a joke. I thought it was a fake gun." Nash besides told the tribunal that she heard Monit scream, "The anserine b— deserves to die," and saw him bushed Guerra successful the caput with the weapon portion she was covered successful blood.

Another Olive Garden diner, James Reau, testified that helium saw that Monit "had the pistillate by her hairsbreadth and was pistol-whipping her with his near hand."

Guerra testified successful Monit's defence aft being arraigned for failing to look successful court. She stated that she did not retrieve being changeable oregon beaten, and that Monit was not "capable of harming anyone." Guerra and Monit's defence squad maintained the shooting was not intentional.

The Midland Daily News reported that during Guerra's testimony, she explained that her ex-husband was causing Monit a large woody of distress. The nighttime they went to the Olive Garden, Guerra said that Monit believed her ex-husband was successful the restaurant's parking batch and was readying to harm them. He astir dialed 911 to telephone the police.

Reau had testified earlier that erstwhile helium asked Monit wherefore helium changeable Guerra, helium answered, "They were going to termination me. They were waiting successful the parking lot."

Guerra testified that she did not cognize Monit was equipped that night. She said "something changed" successful him earlier the shooting, and she has not spoken to him since. Prosecutors claimed the mates went to the edifice to interruption up, but Guerra denied this.

"We were 2 peas successful a pod," she told the court, "That's my person."