The highly publicized case of Cash App founder Bob Lee’s murder began on October 14 at the San Francisco Superior Court, drawing significant attention from the tech community. Lee, who was 43 years old and a product manager for the cryptocurrency platform MobileCoin, was a father of two. His brutal stabbing has left many in shock.
During the opening statements, prosecutors provided a detailed timeline of events surrounding the incident and outlined how the defendant, Nima Momeni, allegedly attempted to cover up his crime after the fact. According to the prosecution, Momeni, 40, got into an argument with his sister Khazar on April 4, 2023. Following the altercation, he took a knife from her apartment and drove Lee to a deserted street, where he stabbed him multiple times before fleeing the scene.
Assistant District Attorney Omid Talai explained, “Our victim was stabbed several times. One wound penetrated his chest, another struck his buttock, and a third pierced his heart, leaving him to bleed out by the roadside.”
In contrast, the defense attorney contested these claims during their opening statements. They asserted that Lee was under the influence of drugs at the time of the incident and that he attacked Momeni first. The defense lawyer stated, “What we’ve heard is that Bob Lee was the one with the knife. Nima acted in self-defense.”
The attorney also mentioned that Momeni is eager to share his side of the story but has yet to decide if he will testify in his own defense.
Momeni, who resides in Emeryville, was arrested shortly after Lee’s death and has been in custody ever since. He appeared in court dressed in a dark suit, sitting alongside his lawyer, while his mother sat nearby. On the other side of the courtroom were Lee’s family members, including his ex-wife, father, and brother.
Talai indicated that the jury would hear testimony from one of Lee’s friends who had been with Lee and Momeni’s sister the day before the incident. This friend is expected to reveal that Momeni expressed angry jealousy over Lee’s relationship with his sister, concerning drugs and “naked girls,” presenting himself as excessively protective, while Lee remained relaxed.
Surveillance footage confirmed that Lee entered the Millennium Tower, where Khazar and her husband lived, on the night of the incident. He and Momeni were seen exiting the building around 2 a.m. and later getting out of the car at a secluded spot near the Bay Bridge. There, Momeni allegedly stabbed Lee three times before discarding the knife and driving away.
Talai also mentioned that they would reveal text messages Momeni sent to Khazar the following morning, where he claimed not to know what had transpired the night before involving Lee.
Both Momeni and Lee’s family declined to comment on the proceedings. Judge Alexandra Gordon stated that the trial might extend until mid-December. If convicted, Momeni faces a potential sentence ranging from 26 years to life in prison.
