SAN FRANCISCO — The concluding arguments in the trial of a technology consultant accused of fatally stabbing Bob Lee, the founder of Cash App, will commence on Monday. This tragic incident, which occurred in April 2023, has left the tech community in mourning for a figure they revered as both talented and compassionate.
Prosecutors in San Francisco assert that Nima Momeni attacked Lee, inflicting three stab wounds after an argument related to Lee’s conduct towards Momeni’s sister, Khazar Momeni, who had a friendship with Lee. The defense, however, contends that Lee was under the influence of drugs, specifically cocaine and ketamine, during the incident, which they claim altered his behavior, making him aggressive and unpredictable. The attorneys maintain that Momeni resorted to his martial arts training to defend himself from a knife that Lee allegedly brandished after what they referred to as a “bad joke.” Momeni faces a severe sentence, with possible penalties ranging from 26 years to life in prison if found guilty. He has denied the charges against him.
This trial, which kicked off on October 14, has been emotionally challenging for both families involved. On one side of the courtroom sits Mahnaz Tayarani, Momeni’s mother, while Lee’s father, brother, and ex-wife occupy the opposite side. According to Timothy Oliver Lee, Bob’s brother, viewing surveillance footage showcasing Bob’s jovial demeanor on his last night and the autopsy images has been incredibly distressing. Timothy has dismissed Momeni’s version of events, labeling them as a fabrication. He expressed a deep connection to his brother, saying, “Regardless of any substance use, Bob was never aggressive and was always that lovable teddy bear.”
Surveillance footage captured the two men leaving Khazar Momeni’s upscale condo around 2 a.m. before entering Momeni’s BMW. Further footage indicated that they exited the vehicle in a secluded area close to the Bay Bridge. Momeni testified that a pothole caused Lee’s beer to spill, leading him to make a joke implying that Lee should spend his last night in the city with family instead of seeking out a strip club. It is at this moment that Momeni alleges Lee pulled a knife on him, claiming he later walked away without visible injuries.
During his testimony, Momeni expressed that he feared for his life, describing his statements as convoluted under cross-examination. “I was scared for my life. I had to defend myself,” he recounted. Shortly thereafter, Lee was discovered on a deserted street in downtown San Francisco, bloodied and calling for assistance, ultimately succumbing to his injuries at a hospital.
Prosecutors have highlighted Momeni’s anger towards Lee, which they believe stemmed from Lee introducing Khazar to a drug dealer who supplied her with GHB, a substance often referred to as a date-rape drug, just hours before the stabbing incident. They argue that Momeni confronted Lee earlier that evening about concerns surrounding his sister’s well-being at the drug dealer’s residence.
Throughout the trial, jurors have had the opportunity to pose questions, one of which, relayed through Judge Alexandra Gordon, inquired why Momeni did not alert authorities either after the alleged knife attack or after realizing that Lee had died from his wounds. A knife found near the scene of the stabbing showed Momeni’s DNA on its handle, though the defense asserted that Lee’s fingerprints should also have been tested.
The unexpected death of Lee shocked the technology industry, prompting an outpouring of tributes from fellow tech experts who celebrated his generosity and intellect. At the time of his death, he served as the chief product officer at the cryptocurrency platform MobileCoin.