Topline
A tech executive accused of murdering Cash App creator Bob Lee in San Francisco earlier this month plans to plead not guilty, his attorney told reporters on Tuesday, arguing the government’s evidence is weak.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed speaks at a news conference to provide updates on Bob Lee’s … [+]
Key Facts
Defense attorney Paula Canny, who represents defendant Nima Momeni, claimed the camera footage prosecutors plan to use as evidence isn’t enough to support a murder charge, arguing, “I don’t think you can see anything in the videos,” Bloomberg and Wall Street Journal reported.
Momeni, a fellow tech executive in the Bay Area who owns information technology consulting company Expand IT, was scheduled to be arraigned today, but his arraignment has been pushed to May 2 per Canny’s request.
Canny said the reason for the postponement was to allow more time to review the police report and autopsy on Lee.
Prosecutors say they have video footage of Lee and Momeni leaving Momeni’s sister’s apartment building together on April 4 and of the stabbing itself.
Momeni was arrested earlier this month and charged with murder for allegedly stabbing Lee to death early on April 4, and he has remained in San Francisco County jail for almost two weeks.
Key Background
Lee, 43, created mobile payment service Cash App during his time working at Jack Dorsey’s Block, formerly known as Square. He was working as chief product officer at the cryptocurrency firm MobileCoin at the time of his death, and was visiting San Francisco after moving to Florida last year. Momeni, 38, lived and worked in Emeryville, California, just outside San Francisco. Prosecutors allege Momeni drove Lee to a remote area before stabbing him three times. Video footage released to the public shows Lee stumbling down the street moments before his death. In the footage, Lee approaches a car and lifts up his shirt to show stab wounds, appearing to ask for help before the car drives away. Lee was pronounced dead later that morning after he was found by police and transported to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.
What We Don’t Know
An alleged motive for the killing has yet to be revealed, but San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott has said the two knew each other. Lee was also texting with Momeni’s sister, Khazar Elyassnia, who messaged him, “Just wanted to make sure your doing ok Cause know nima came wayyyyyy down hard on you,” according to court documents obtained by NBC News. Prosecutors say the stabbing occurred after the two men left Momeni’s sister’s apartment building. A witness also told police Momeni had questioned Lee about whether he was “doing drugs or anything inappropriate” with his sister.
Surprising Fact
On the evening of April 4, after Lee’s death, Momeni reportedly phoned his neighbor to ask him for “all your alcohol,” a neighbor of his told Forbes. He then asked the same neighbor to travel to Colombia with him.
Further Reading
Tech Star Lee’s Alleged Killer to Plead Not Guilty to Murder (Bloomberg)
Suspect in Cash App Founder Bob Lee’s Killing Plans ‘Not Guilty’ Plea (Wall Street Journal)
Who Is Nima Momeni—Suspect Arrested In Killing Of Cash App Founder Bob Lee (Forbes)
Bob Lee And Nima Momeni Reportedly Fought Over Suspect’s Sister (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/katherinehamilton/2023/04/25/cash-app-creator-bob-lees-accused-killer-pleading-not-guilty-lawyer-says/