SAN FRANCISCO (AP)– A San Francisco court on Tuesday located a technology professional guilty of second-degree murder in the stabbing fatality of Cash App creator Bob Lee, which lugs a sentence of 16 years to life, denying the accused’s insurance claim that he had actually acted in self-defense.
Jurors took 7 days to supply their judgment versus Nima Momeni in the April 4, 2023, fatality of Lee, a cherished technology magnate that was located surprising on a deserted midtown road, trickling a path of blood and calling for aid. Lee, 43, later on passed away at a healthcare facility.
“We think justice was done here today,” the target’s bro, Tim Oliver Lee, informed press reporters. “What matters today is that we had a guilty verdict and Nima Momeni is going away for a very long time.”
Prosecutors stated Momeni planned the attack on Lee, driving him to a separated place under the Bay Bridge and stabbing him 3 times with a blade he extracted from his sibling’s cooking area. They claim Momeni was mad with Lee for presenting his younger sister to a dope dealer she states provided her GHB and various other medications and afterwards sexually attacked her.
But Momeni testified on the stand that Lee was the one that struck him with a blade, angry after the tech consultant chided him about spending more time with his family instead of searching for a strip club that night. Momeni, who studies martial arts, claimed self-defense and said he didn’t realize he had fatally wounded Lee or that Lee was even hurt.
The situation has actually attracted nationwide focus, partially offeredLee’s status in the tech world At initially, his fatality enflamed debate over public safety in San Francisco as X proprietor Elon Musk required to the social media sites website to publish that “violent crime in SF is horrific and even if attackers are caught, they are often released immediately.”
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said the verdict showed that the killing was a targeted crime and not an example of random lawlessness in the city.
“We are a city committed to accountability, we are a city committed to public safety,” Jenkins told reporters after the hearing.
Momeni, 40, has actually remained in custodianship considering that his apprehension in April 2023, when he was billed with murder in the very first level. Jurors gotten the case, whichstarted Oct 14, onDec 4.
Two of his five attorneys were in court Tuesday, with the others attending via Zoom from Florida.
“This is obviously very disappointing for us,” said Tony Brass, adding that the team would evaluate for an appeal.
Jurors reached their decision late Monday afternoon, but the court chose to announce the verdict Tuesday morning. The courtroom was crowded with Lee’s family and friends and journalists who have been following the high-profile trial.
Family members of both men have faithfully attended the trial. Mahnaz Tayarani, mother of the defendant, has sat on one side of the court room while Lee’s father, brother and ex-wife sat on the other, recoiling at Lee’s autopsy photos and 911 call.
On Tuesday, Tayarani had tears in her eyes as she called the verdict unfair.
“My son is not the person that they think,” she stated. “He’s very kind, he’s very loving and respectful and caring.”
Lee had actually produced mobile settlement solution Cash App and was the primary item police officer of the cryptocurrency MobileCoin when he passed away. He had actually transferred to Miami from the San Francisco Bay Area, where his ex-wife Krista Lee copes with their 2 youngsters.
Both sides settled on the series of occasions that brought about both guys taking on in the morning hours of April 4. But there is no independent paperwork of what they stated to every various other or that drew out the blade, and video clip of their last experience is rough.
The prosecution stated the video clip revealed Momeni stabbing Lee 3 times. They additionally stated the murder tool– a virtually 8-inch paring blade with an about 4-inch blade– had Momeni’s DNA on its take care of and Lee’s DNA on the blade.
Jurors ultimately declined a fee of murder in the very first level, which needed district attorneys show that Momeni acted intentionally, on purpose and with premeditation. Murder in the 2nd level does not need that component.
Jurors on Tuesday decreased to speak with journalism.
The mid-day prior to the stabbing, Lee and Khazar Momeni had actually been doing medications and alcohol consumption at the apartment or condo of a dope dealer Lee recognized. Lee left prior to Nima Momeni mosted likely to grab his sibling, that informed him she had actually been attacked.
A pal of Lee’s indicated Momeni after that smoked Lee over the phone concerning what occurred to his sibling while at the pusher’s apartment or condo. He sent out text claiming that both guys were creeps and sex-related killers.
Momeni later on socialized with Lee at his sibling’s condominium up until she kicked them out, claiming she required to rest.
Surveillance video clip reveals both guys leaving Khazar Momeni’s posh condo around 2 a.m. and entering Nima Momeni’s BMW. Other security video after that reveals them leaving the vehicle near the Bay Bridge, where the stabbing occurred.
Momeni testified he quit his vehicle after reviewing a pocket that triggered Lee to splash the beer he was holding. Momeni stated he after that split a joke recommending Lee need to invest the last evening of his browse through with family members rather than looking for a strip club to maintain the event going.
That’s when he states Lee broke, chewed out him concerning examining his parenting abilities and took out the blade from his coat pocket, and struck.
“I was scared for my life,” Momeni stated throughout test, in testament that was rambling and contentious.
He stated Lee left the experience, and revealed no proof of being injured. He really did not understand Lee had actually passed away up until the complying with day, he stated.
“I feel awful to his family, to himself,” Momeni stated on the stand. “He didn’t deserve it. I don’t think anyone deserved that.”
The prosecution buffooned Momeni’s story, pointing out that he never ever called cops to record Lee’s affirmed assault and even after he discovered Lee had actually passed away of stab injuries on the road where he had actually last seen him.
Prosecutors additionally revealed text Khazar Momeni sent her bro, asking where he had actually left Lee– an inquiry he avoided. She sent out a text message to Lee looking at him since her bro came “down hard on you” and to thank him for “managing it with course.
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This tale has actually been upgraded to clear up that Momeni was condemned of second-degree murder, not homicide.
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Associated Press press reporters Christopher Weber in Los Angeles and Haven Daley in San Francisco added to this record.
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