SAN FRANCISCO — The trial of Nima Momeni, a technology consultant facing murder charges in the stabbing death of Cash App creator Bob Lee, witnessed a tense exchange between Momeni and the lead prosecutor on Thursday. During his cross-examination, Momeni frequently interrupted the prosecutor’s questions with his own inquiries, prompting repeated reminders from the judge to provide relevant responses.
Momeni, aged 40, broke his silence after 18 months on the witness stand Wednesday, recounting the incident that led to Lee’s fatal attack. He described finding Lee, 43, staggering on a deserted street in downtown San Francisco at around 2:30 a.m. on April 4, 2023, bleeding and calling for assistance. Lee succumbed to his injuries later at a hospital.
In his testimony, Momeni claimed that Lee unexpectedly brandished a knife after Momeni made a “bad joke” suggesting that Lee should spend his final evening in the city with his family rather than going to a strip club. He stated that after the confrontation, Lee walked away without showing any signs of injury. His account shocked Lee’s family members, who have been consistent supporters throughout the lengthy trial. They emphasized Lee’s kind nature and close relationship with his two children and ex-wife.
Timothy Oliver Lee, the victim’s brother, expressed his disbelief outside the courtroom. “What you have seen is Nima be aggressive on the stand, you’ve seen him just trying to take control of this room, his arrogance and his entitlement are on full display here,” he remarked. “This is insane. All of this is ridiculous.”
The trial is now in its fifth week, and should Momeni be convicted, he could face a prison sentence ranging from 26 years to life. The tech community mourned Lee’s untimely death, with many colleagues remembering him for his intelligence and generosity. At the time of his passing, Lee served as the chief product officer for cryptocurrency platform MobileCoin.
Prosecutors allege that Momeni planned the attack following a dispute involving his younger sister, Khazar Momeni, who was friends with Lee. After Momeni picked her up from a drug dealer’s residence—where she claimed to have been sexually assaulted after consuming a date-rape drug—he became furious with Lee. Prosecutors assert that after an altercation, Momeni retrieved a knife from his sister’s condo and subsequently drove Lee to a secluded spot, where he stabbed him multiple times before fleeing.
On Thursday, Assistant District Attorney Omid Talai intensely questioned Momeni about the specifics of the attack, including why he failed to contact authorities after the incident and why he ignored a text from his sister inquiring about Lee’s whereabouts. Momeni claimed he did not learn of Lee’s death until the next day and was confused by his sister’s message, asserting that he believed Lee might have been attacked by another individual right after he left unharmed.
In the courtroom, Momeni challenged the prosecutor, accusing him of distorting his prior statements and claiming he had already provided the necessary answers. At one moment, Judge Alexandra Gordon clarified that the prosecutor was not required to show Momeni a record of the texts being discussed or display them visually. Momeni acknowledged the clarification sarcastically, thanking the judge.
Prosecutors have compelling video evidence showing Lee and Momeni leaving Khazar Momeni’s residence in Momeni’s BMW shortly after 2 a.m. The footage depicts the two men exiting the vehicle at an isolated area near the Bay Bridge, which prosecutors assert is where Momeni stabbed Lee. However, the defense contends that it was Lee who attacked Momeni, claiming he was erratic from a substance-induced episode.
A knife recovered from the crime scene exhibited Momeni’s DNA on the handle, yet the defense emphasized the need to test the knife for fingerprints, particularly those of Lee. Momeni maintained that he and Lee were amicable when they departed from his sister’s condo, while prosecutors highlighted that Momeni had previously confronted Lee about the situation regarding his sister earlier in the evening.
The prosecutor drew parallels between Momeni’s probing questions during the testimony and the way he had earlier interrogated Lee. Momeni came to the United States with his mother, Mahnaz Tayarani, and sister Khazar when he was just 14, escaping an abusive environment in Iran, as detailed in a supportive letter from his mother submitted to the court for Momeni’s pre-trial release.
As the trial continues, Momeni’s family sits on one side of the courtroom, with Lee’s family occupying the opposite side, highlighting the stark contrast between their two realities in the wake of this high-profile case.
