Nima Momeni has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of Cash App founder Bob Lee, a verdict reached by a San Francisco jury after seven days of deliberation.
The first-degree murder conviction carries a prison sentence of 15 years to life and includes an enhancement for using a knife in the crime. Momeni was found not guilty of the more serious charge of first-degree murder.
Prosecutors Dane Reinstedt and Omid Talai were present in the courtroom for the sentencing, as was Sgt. Brent Dittmer – who testified at the trial – and a handful of members of the district attorney’s office.
Defense lawyers Tony Brass and Zoe Aron were also present, along with Nima’s mother Mahnaz Momeni. The suspect’s sister, Khazar Momeni, was not present.
The Bob Lee family speaks
Outside the courtroom, Lee’s brother Timothy Oliver Lee said the family was satisfied with the verdict.
“We are happy with the result today. We are happy that Nima Momeni will no longer be on the streets and will no longer have the opportunity to harm anyone else in this world,” he said. “The verdict of murder two will lock him up for a long time.”
He also noted that in addition to Momeni being found guilty of the murder, the proceedings showed that his family was complicit in the crime by helping him cover it up and that they had “blood on their hands.” He said there were several dozen friends and sympathizers with the family in the courtroom when the verdict was read.
“We are extremely grateful to the Public Prosecution Service, we are extremely grateful to the juries. I think justice has been done here today,” he added.
Fatal stabbing of Cash App founder
Momeni was accused of it fatally stabbing tech manager Lee in a remote part of San Francisco’s East Cut neighborhood, under the Bay Bridge in April 2023.
Officials of the Court announced late Monday afternoon that the jury had reached a verdict shortly before 4 p.m
Prosecutors accused Momeni of stabbing Lee with a kitchen knife after a heated argument about his sister’s relationship with Lee as well as their continued drug use. During the trial, Momeni’s lawyers claimed their client acted in self-defenseclaiming Lee lunged at Momeni with a knife in his hand while high on ketamine and cocaine. The defense said Lee became erratic and aggressive after Momeni made a “bad joke”. at the expense of Lee’s family.
Intensive ordeal
The trial, which lasted six weeks, was punctuated by dramatic testimony, including an appearance on the stand by Momeni’s sister, Khazar Momeni. She testified as a witness for the prosecution and insisted during her first day of testimony that her brother did not kill Lee. She also described consuming various drugs with Lee and others in the days leading up to the fatal stabbing.
Under cross-examination by lawyers, Khazar Momeni described Lee as “all over the place” and “aggressive” while high on drugs. Her testimony was criticized outside the courtroom by Lee’s ex-wife Krista Lee accused her of “victimizing herself.”
The testimony became controversial when Nima Momeni took the stand as a defendant sparred with the prosecutor during cross-examination after earlier describes how Lee allegedly attacked him as his defense team questioned him about the confrontation.
Challenging the story of Nima Momeni
San Francisco Assistant District Attorney Omid Talai disputed Momeni’s version of the story, focusing on his actions immediately after Lee’s death, including his phone calls to lawyers and text messages with his sister.
The case was finalized with prosecutors in the first week of December in an attempt to undermine Momeni’s defense in their closing arguments and ask why he didn’t call the police or tell anyone that Lee had allegedly attacked him.
The defense showed an impressive video during their closing arguments, presenting surveillance images they claimed Lee was doing cocaine on the street outside a private club with the same knife that killed him hours later. Defense attorney Saam Zangeneh used a cardboard cutout of the knife in court so the jury could see the size of the paring knife he said the video showed Lee had in his possession all along.
That video sparked a tense conversation between Zangeneh and Lee’s ex-wife, who let out a loud, mocking laugh as he showed the footage.
Zangeneh turned to address her directly and said it wasn’t funny. Prosecutors quickly objected and the judge intervened to restore order in the courtroom.
The jury deliberations began on the morning of December 4.
