Trial Begins for Tech Consultant Accused in Bob Lee’s Stabbing Death

 

The trial of Nima Momeni, the tech consultant charged with the fatal stabbing of Cash App founder Bob Lee, commenced on Monday in San Francisco. Momeni’s defense attorneys argue that he acted in self-defense during an altercation with Lee, who they claim was aggressive due to being under the influence of drugs.

Prosecutors allege that Momeni, 40, intentionally attacked Lee on April 4, 2023, following a dispute related to Momeni's younger sister, Khazar, who was friends with Lee. They claim Momeni took a knife from his sister's condo, drove Lee to a secluded area, and stabbed him three times, leaving him to die. Assistant District Attorney Omid Talai described the injuries, stating that one stab wound punctured Lee's heart.

Lee’s death at the age of 43 shocked the tech community, prompting tributes to his kindness and brilliance. At the time of his death, he was the chief product officer of the cryptocurrency platform MobileCoin and a father to two children.

During the opening statements, Judge Alexandra Gordon informed the jury that the trial is expected to last two months. Momeni, who has been in custody since shortly after Lee’s death, has pleaded not guilty and could face 26 years to life in prison if convicted.

Defense attorney Saam Zangeneh asserted that Momeni had no ill intentions toward Lee and that the wound patterns indicated he was forced to defend himself after Lee pulled a knife during their confrontation. Zangeneh emphasized the need for a not guilty verdict, stating, “Somebody’s dead. Nobody likes that, but you have the right to defend yourself.”

In court, Momeni appeared in a dark suit, while members of Lee’s family, including his ex-wife and father, sat on the opposite side. The jury listened to the 911 call made by Lee, who was heard pleading for help and unable to provide information about his location.

Prosecutors plan to present testimony from a friend of Lee's, who will recount a phone call between Lee and Momeni, in which Momeni confronted Lee about his sister, drugs, and women. However, Zangeneh argued that the friend is not a credible witness and noted that Lee had invited Momeni to join him at a strip club that night.

Surveillance footage is expected to show Lee entering the Millennium Tower, where Momeni’s sister lives, and later leaving with Momeni shortly after 2 a.m. The prosecution claims that additional video will depict the stabbing incident near the Bay Bridge and that Momeni disposed of the knife after the attack.

A knife with a 4-inch blade was recovered from the scene, and DNA testing reportedly found Momeni's DNA on the handle and Lee's on the blade. Zangeneh criticized the investigation, suggesting that police should have tested the knife for fingerprints, including Lee's.

While Momeni is eager to present his side of the story, his defense team has not yet decided if he will testify during the trial. Family members of both Momeni and Lee declined to comment on the proceedings.