Nima Momeni was found guilty of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of Cash App founder Bob Lee, a verdict returned by a San Francisco jury after seven days of deliberations.
The second-degree murder verdict carries a 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 premeditated first-degree murder.
Prosecutors Dane Reinstedt and Omid Talai were in the courtroom for the verdict, as was Sgt. Brent Dittmer – who testified at trial – and a handful of members of the DA’s office.
Defense lawyers Tony Brass and Zoe Aron were also present as well as Nima’s mother, Mahnaz Momeni.
Outside the courtroom, Lee’s brother, Timothy Oliver Lee, said the family was pleased with the verdict.
“We are happy with today’s result. We are happy that Nima Momeni is no longer on the streets and no longer has the opportunity to harm anyone in this world,” he said. “The second murder verdict will put him in custody for a long time.”
Shocking Murder
Momeni was accused of he fatally stabbed Lee, technical director in a remote part of San Francisco’s East Cut neighborhood, beneath the Bay Bridge, in April 2023.
Justice officials announced Monday afternoon that the jury had reached a verdict shortly before 4 p.m.
Prosecutors accused Momeni of stabbing Lee with a kitchen paring knife following a heated discussion regarding her sister’s relationship with Lee. as well as their continued drug use. During the trial, Momeni’s lawyers claimed their client acted in self-defensealleging that Lee lunged at Momeni with a knife in his hand while under the influence of ketamine and cocaine. Defense said Lee became erratic and aggressive after Momeni made a ‘bad joke’ at the expense of Lee’s family.
An intense trial
The trial, which lasted six weeks, was punctuated by dramatic testimony, including the appearance on the stand of Momeni’s sister, Khazar Momeni. She testified as a prosecution witness and insisted during his first day of testimony that his brother did not kill Lee. She also detailed the consumption multiple drugs with Lee and others in the days leading up to the fatal attack.
During cross-examination by defense attorneys, Khazar Momeni described Lee as “everywhere” and “aggressive” while I’m drugged. His testimony was criticized outside the courtroom by Lee’s ex-wife, Krista Lee, who accused her of trying to “make herself a victim.”
The testimony became controversial when Nima Momeni took the stand, while the accused confronted the prosecution during cross-examination after earlier describing how Lee allegedly attacked him while his defense team questioned him about the confrontation.
Contesting the lawsuits
Assistant San Francisco District Attorney Omid Talai disputed Momeni’s version of the story and focused on his actions immediately after Lee’s death, including his calls to lawyers and text messages with his sister.
The case ended the first week of December with prosecutors trying to tear down Momeni’s defense in their closing arguments and asking why he didn’t call the police or tell anyone about Lee allegedly attacking him.
The defense showed an explosive video during its closing arguments, presentation of surveillance images they claimed to have shown Lee doing cocaine on the street outside a private club with the same knife used to kill 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 proved Lee had it in his possession all along.
The video sparked a tense exchange between Zangeneh and Lee’s ex-wife, who let out a mocking laugh as she showed the footage.
Zangeneh turned to her directly, saying it wasn’t funny. Prosecutors quickly protested and the judge intervened to restore order to the courtroom.
The jury began deliberations on the morning of December 4.
