Lawyers for accused tech consultant in the murder of Cash App founder Bob Lee claim there was no motive for the crime, citing a cordial relationship between the two.
Lawyers for accused tech consultant in the murder of Cash App founder Bob Lee claim there was no motive for the crime, citing a cordial relationship between the two.
Momeni’s Lawyers Present Arguments in Preliminary Hearing
In a dramatic preliminary hearing, the defense attorneys for Nima Momeni presented their arguments regarding the April 4th attack that left Bob Lee fatally wounded on a desolate San Francisco street. Prosecutors have alleged that Momeni planned the attack in response to a dispute involving his sister, Khazar. However, the defense team argued that it was not Lee but another man whom Momeni suspected of acting inappropriately with his sister.
Tony Brass, one of Momeni’s defense attorneys, emphasized the seemingly cordial relationship between Momeni and Lee. “What you see is cordial, a cordial relationship between Nima Momeni and Bob Lee,” Brass told reporters. He pointed out that the two men were seen in a car together, indicating that there was no murderous rage between them.
The defense team further highlighted that Momeni’s inquiries about his sister’s activities were directed towards the man whose apartment they had been drinking at. Saam Zangeneh, another one of Momeni’s lawyers, explicitly stated that he needed to refute the idea of an “honor killing” allegedly committed to protect his sister.
It is essential to note that prosecutors have not provided a clear motive for the attack. However, they have presented a timeline of events, given the high-profile nature of the case due to Lee’s prominence in the tech world. As the creator of Cash App, a popular mobile payment service, and the chief product officer of cryptocurrency MobileCoin, Lee’s death has garnered significant media attention.
Momeni, who has been in jail since his arrest on April 13th, pleaded not guilty to the charges. If convicted, he could face 26 years to life in prison. The arrest came more than a week after Lee was found bleeding in the early morning hours of April 4th, ultimately succumbing to his injuries at a hospital.
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During the preliminary hearing, Assistant District Attorney Omid Talai presented evidence, including photographs of the knife allegedly used by Momeni, a trail of blood left by Lee as he sought help, and video footage capturing Momeni and Lee leaving Khazar’s condominium building prior to the stabbing.
The prosecution claims that the weapon is part of a unique kitchen set belonging to Khazar, with Momeni’s DNA found on the handle and Lee’s DNA on the blade. However, there was skepticism from the defense regarding the forensic analysis. Saam Zangeneh questioned why only DNA testing was conducted on the knife’s rubber handle, rather than fingerprint analysis. The crime scene investigator from the San Francisco Police Department, Rosalyn Check, explained that rubber surfaces are difficult to gather fingerprints from, leading to the decision to focus solely on DNA testing.
Surveillance footage from Lee’s final night shows him entering the luxurious Millennium Tower, where Momeni’s sister resides with her husband, a prominent San Francisco plastic surgeon. Shortly after 2 a.m., the video captures Lee and Momeni leaving the building together and driving away in Momeni’s car. Lee was discovered with life-threatening injuries just thirty minutes later in San Francisco’s Rincon Hill neighborhood, an area known for its tech offices and condominiums but typically quiet during the early morning hours.
The preliminary hearing will continue on Tuesday, allowing the defense team to present additional arguments. The judge will evaluate the presented evidence and determine whether there is enough justification to proceed to trial. As this high-profile case unfolds, the public eagerly awaits further details and developments, hoping that the truth will ultimately prevail.
