The murder trial of tech consultant Nima Momeni, accused in the stabbing death of Cash App founder Bob Lee, began Monday in San Francisco Superior Court.
Lee, 43, was found fatally wounded on a downtown San Francisco street on April 4, 2023. The case shocked the tech community, where Lee was known for his work as chief product officer of cryptocurrency platform MobileCoin.
Prosecutors allege Momeni, 40, planned the attack following a dispute over his younger sister, Khazar. They claim Momeni drove Lee to a secluded area, stabbed him three times with a knife taken from his sister’s condo, and fled.
Defense attorney Saam Zangeneh counters that Lee, allegedly under the influence of drugs, attacked Momeni. “Our theory is that Bob had the knife, and that Nima acted in self-defense,” Zangeneh said.
Surveillance footage shows Lee and Momeni leaving the Millennium Tower, where Momeni’s sister resides, together after 2 a.m. on the night of the incident. Lee was discovered around 2:30 a.m. in the Rincon Hill neighborhood.
A knife recovered at the scene reportedly contains Momeni’s DNA on the handle and Lee’s DNA on the blade, according to prosecutors. The defense argues that police should have tested for Lee’s fingerprints on the handle.
Momeni has pleaded not guilty and faces 26 years to life if convicted. Judge Alexandra Gordon estimates the trial could last until mid-December.
The case has drawn significant attention due to Lee’s prominence in the tech industry and the circumstances surrounding his death.
apnews.com
