Opening statements were scheduled to begin Monday in the trial of Nima Momeni, the man accused of fatally stabbing technology executive Bob Lee in San Francisco.
The crime occurred in the early morning hours of April 4, 2023. San Francisco police officers responded to a call in the city’s East Cut neighborhood about a man who had been stabbed in the 300 block of Main Street. That man, later identified as the 43-year-old founder of Cash App, died at the hospital.
His death initially caused a sense of fear in San Francisco as people worried that this was a random killing on the city streets. But nine days later the police arrested Nima Momeni, and it turns out it wasn’t a random meeting: the two men knew each other.
The investigation would unfold over the coming weeks and months, uncovering a complex history between Momeni, Lee and Momeni’s sister, as well as a series of encounters in the hours and minutes leading up to the stabbing.
Momeni eventually was charged with murder and has pleaded not guilty. Eighteen months later, the Public Prosecution Service and the defense will present their case to a jury of six men and six women.
Steve Clark, a legal analyst and former prosecutor, believes opening statements will be critical in laying the groundwork for the trial so that the jury knows exactly where both sides want to go.
‘There are two competing stories in this case and they are diametrically opposed to each other. The prosecution says this was a premeditated, planned murder of Mr Lee, that he was taken to a vulnerable position where he was stabbed and left to die. said Clark. “The defense contends that Mr. Momeni acted in reasonable self-defense.”
Court documents reveal alleged drug use by Lee, Momeni’s sister and others at an apartment hours before the stabbing occurred. Nima Momeni was not present at the time of the alleged drug use.
“Mr. Lee’s drug use is highly relevant to this case as it could indicate that he was acting aggressively or erratically and Mr. Momeni responded accordingly,” Clark said.
Clark believes forensic pathology will likely be a key component in assessing the defense’s self-defense claims.
“Well, the big question will be whether Mr. Momeni is testifying on his own behalf?” he said.
Another possibility he’ll keep an eye on as the process unfolds?
“The big x-factor is Mr. Momeni’s sister,” Clark said. “Will she come forward and testify about the interaction between Mr. Lee and Mr. Momeni at the time, as well as the history between her and Mr. Lee?”
