Nima Momeni found guilty of second-degree murder Cash App founder Bob Lee stabbed to deatha San Francisco jury reached its verdict after seven days of deliberations.
The second-degree murder verdict carries a sentence of 15 years to life in prison, and includes a heavier sentence for using a knife in the crime. Momeni was acquitted of the more serious charge of premeditated first-degree murder.
Prosecutors Dane Reinstedt and Omid Tarai were in court for sentencing, as were Sgt. Brent Dittmer and several members of the District Attorney’s Office who testified at the trial. The Lee family, including his ex-wife Krista and brother, were also in attendance, along with other family, friends and supporters.
Defense attorneys Tony Blass and Zoe Aaron were also in attendance, as were Momeni’s mother Mahnaz Momeni. The defendant’s sister, Hazar Momeni, was not present when the verdict was read in court on Tuesday morning.
The judge issued a stern warning to those present in court not to react in any way as the verdict was read. Momeni was seen dabbing his eyes as he listened to the verdict.
Sketch by Vicki Bellinger
A preliminary hearing to set a sentencing date for Momeni is scheduled for January 10, 2025.
Bob Lee family talks
Lee’s brother, Timothy Oliver Lee, said outside court that the family was satisfied with the sentence.
“We are satisfied with today’s result. We are happy that Nima Momeni is off the streets and no longer has the opportunity to harm anyone in this world,” he said. “The double murder sentence will keep him out for a long time.”
He also said that in addition to Momeni being found guilty of murder, the trial also found that Momeni’s family had been complicit in the crime and had “blood on their hands” in an attempt to help cover up the incident. It was pointed out that it was shown. He said the Momeni family had dozens of friends and supporters in the courtroom when the verdict was read.
“We’re very grateful to the district attorney’s office and we’re very grateful to the jury. We think justice was served here today,” he added.
San Francisco Attorney Jenkins protects the city
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins was present at the sentencing and thanked the attorneys who prosecuted the case outside the courtroom after the guilty verdict was read.
“We were confident that we had the two best people to handle this case,” Jenkins said. “And I think this verdict was a testament to their hard work, and what great lawyers they are, and their commitment to justice, and making sure this family got justice. ”
She also cited comments made by Elon Musk and others after the stabbing, when critics claimed San Francisco was lawless and out of control as part of the popular “Doom Loop” narrative often circulated on social media. He also objected.
“Hopefully we’ve proven once again what really happened here. That Elon Musk really shamed San Francisco on Twitter after Bob Lee was killed and tried to make it seem like this actually happened. “We all know about the illegal activities in San Francisco and what’s happening on our streets,” Jenkins said.
He noted that law enforcement initially felt that Lee’s stabbing was not a random act.
“And we knew it was something different. And I think today we proved again that we are a responsible city and a city that is committed to public safety.” she added. “And when something bad happens that we don’t always have control over, law enforcement at all levels responds to ensure that there is justice and accountability in every situation.”
Ms Jenkins said her office would prepare an appeal by Mr Momeni’s legal team.
Cash App founder stabbed to death
Momeni was accused Technology executive Lee stabbed to death April 2023, in a secluded part of San Francisco’s East Cut neighborhood, under the Bay Bridge.
court staff A jury announced late Monday afternoon that it had reached a verdict. Just before 4pm
Prosecutors accused Momeni of stabbing Lee with a paring knife after a heated argument about the relationship between his sister and Lee. As well as their continued drug use;. During the trial, Momeni’s lawyer said: claimed their client acted in self-defenseLee claims he lunged at Momeni with a knife in his hand while high on ketamine and cocaine. defense Mr Lee said he became erratic and aggressive after Mr Momeni told him a “bad joke”. At the expense of Lee’s family.
intense trial
The six-week trial was punctuated by dramatic testimony, including an appearance on the stand by Momeni’s sister, Hazar Momeni. She testified as a witness for the prosecution, She insisted in her first day of testimony that her brother did not kill Lee.. She also elaborated on consumption In the days leading up to the stabbing, he and Lee had taken several types of drugs.
During cross-examination by defense counsel, Hazar Momeni said of Lee: Drug addiction causes him to become “aggressive all over the place”. Her testimony was criticized outside court by Mr. Lee’s ex-wife, Krista Lee. He accused her of “trying to make herself a victim.”
When Nima Momeni took the stand as a defendant, her testimony was controversial. quarreled with the prosecution during cross-examination after the previous Mr Lee described how he allegedly attacked him. Meanwhile, his defense team questioned him about the confrontation.
Tackling the story of Nima Momeni
San Francisco Assistant District Attorney Omid Tarai disputed Momeni’s claims, focusing on his actions in the immediate aftermath of Lee’s death, including calls to his lawyer and text messages with his sister.
The case was closed by prosecutors in the first week of December In his closing argument, he tried to tear down Mr Momeni’s defense, asking why he didn’t call the police or tell anyone about Mr Lee’s alleged attack on him..
The defense showed the bombshell video during closing arguments. present surveillance footage They claimed Lee was shown doing cocaine hours later on the street outside a private club with the same knife used in the murder. Defense lawyer Saam Zangeneh used a cardboard cutout of the paring knife in court so jurors could see its size, and said the video proved Lee had it in his possession at all times. .
The video led to a tense exchange between Mr. Zangeneh and Mr. Lee’s ex-wife, during which she loudly jeered as Mr. Zangeneh showed the footage.
Mr. Zangeneh turned around and addressed her directly, telling her it wasn’t funny. Prosecutors quickly objected, and the judge intervened to restore order in the courtroom.
jury Deliberations began on the morning of December 4th..
Who is Nima Momeni?
Nima Momeni, 40, was described at the time as a “technology entrepreneur.” He was arrested in April 2023 on suspicion of murdering Bob Lee.. Momeni was taken into custody at his home in Emeryville on April 11, days after the stabbing.
According to his Linkedin page, Momeni is the owner of Expand IT. His profile states the company has been providing IT solutions in the Bay Area since 2010.
Neighbors who lived near Momeni I was shocked to hear of his arrest.. After Momeni was taken into custody, Bay Area public relations veteran Sam Singer, who worked next to Momeni, said he had no contact with the defendant other than hearing some slightly loud music being played. He said there were no problems.
“He’s warm, welcoming, and a really nice guy. He lives in a live work space, just like other technology consultants here in the Bay Area,” Singer said. “He handed us a stack of cards and said, ‘If you need anything, just let us know.'”
It later emerged that Mr Hazar Momeni had introduced Mr Lee to his brother and thought the successful Cash App founder might collaborate with Mr Nima on one of his projects.
Who is Bob Lee?
Bob Lee, a successful Bay Area technology company, is best known as the creator and founder of the digital wallet Cash App. Lee worked as a staff software engineer at Google in the 2000s, helping develop the mobile operating system used in Android phones.
In 2010, he was hired by San Francisco e-commerce company Square, Inc., where he became chief technology officer before moving to Cash App. At the time of his death, Lee was working as chief product officer for the cryptocurrency MobileCoin.
Lee lived in Mill Valley with his family, including his ex-wife Krista and their two children, but the couple separated in 2019. Lee later moved to Miami to live with his father in 2022, and visited San Francisco for work in 2022. Fatally stabbed.
Lee Momeni and Hazar Momeni are members of an underground party scene fueled by sex and drugs known as “The Lifestyle” in wealthy Bay Area tech circles, The Wall Street Journal reports. It is said that he was The medical examiner’s report revealed that The technical executive died on the operating table, with alcohol, cocaine and ketamine found in his system.
