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 deliberations.
The verdict of second degree murder carries a 15 years to life sentence and includes an enhancement for using a knife in the crime. Momeni was found not guilty of the more serious charge of pre-meditated first degree murder.
Prosecutors Dane Reinstedt and Omid Talai were present in the courtroom for the verdict, as was Sgt. Brent Dittmer – who testified in the trial – and a handful of members of the DA’s office.
Defense attorneys Tony Brass and Zoe Aron were also present along with Nima’s mother Mahnaz Momeni. The defendant’s sister Khazar Momeni was not present.
Bob Lee family speaks
Outside the courtroom, Lee’s brother Timothy Oliver Lee said the family was satisfied with the verdict.
“We we’re happy with the result today. We’re happy that Nima Momeni won’t be on the streets, no longer has the opportunity to harm anyone else in this world,” he said. “The verdict of murder two will put him away for a long time.”
He also noted that besides Momeni being found guilty of the murder, the proceedings showed that his family was complicit in the crime by trying to help him cover it up and had “blood on their hands.” He said that there were several dozen friends and supporters in the courtroom with the family when the verdict was read.
“We’re extremely thankful to the District Attorney’s Office, we’re extremely thankful for the juries. I think justice was done here today,” he added.
Shocking murder
Momeni was accused of fatally stabbing tech executive Lee in a secluded part of San Francisco’s East Cut neighborhood under the Bay Bridge in April 2023.
Court officials 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 paring knife following a heated discussion regarding his sister’s relationship with Lee as well as their ongoing drug use. During the trial, Momeni’s lawyers claimed that their client acted in self-defense, alleging that 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.
Intense trial
The trial, which lasted six weeks, was punctuated by dramatic testimony, including an appearance on the stand of Momeni’s sister, Khazar Momeni. She testified as a witness for the prosecution and insisted during her first day of testimony that her brother didn’t kill Lee. She also detailed consuming several drugs with Lee and others in the days leading up to the fatal stabbing.
During cross examination by defense attorneys, 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, who accused her of trying to “make herself a victim.”
The testimony turned contentious when Nima Momeni took the stand, as the defendant sparred with the prosecution during cross-examination after earlier describing how Lee allegedly attacked him while his defense team questioned him about the confrontation.
Prosecutorial challenge
San Francisco Assistant District Attorney Omid Talai challenged Momeni’s version of the story and focused on his actions immediately after Lee’s death, including his calls to attorneys and text messages with his sister.
The case wrapped up in 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 police or tell anyone about Lee allegedly attacking him.
The defense showed a bombshell video during their closing arguments, presenting surveillance footage they claimed showed 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 in his possession all along.
That video sparked a tense exchange between Zangeneh and Lee’s former wife, who let out a loud, mocking laugh as he showed the footage.
Zangeneh turned to directly address her, saying it wasn’t funny. Prosecutors quickly objected and the judge intervened to restore order in the courtroom.
The jury began deliberations on the morning of Dec. 4.