Tuesday morning marks the start of jury deliberations in the murder trial in San Francisco of Nima Momeni, the man accused by prosecutors of fatally stabbing Cash App inventor Bob Lee last year.
On Tuesday, the fourth day of deliberations since the case was initially received last Wednesday, the jury was scheduled to meet again at 9:30 a.m.
Momeni was accused of first-degree murder in connection with tech executive Lee’s fatal stabbing in 2023.Although jurors are also taking second-degree murder and manslaughter into consideration, the felony carries a sentence of 26 years to life in prison.
The jurors were told by the court that a unanimous decision was required.
Momeni is charged with killing Lee early in the morning of April 2023 in a secluded area of San Francisco’s East Cut neighborhood beneath the Bay Bridge. In retaliation for introducing his sister Khazar Momeni to a suspected drug dealer who fed her narcotics and sexually molested her, the prosecution claimed Momeni stabbed the IT executive.
Momeni’s attorneys argued throughout the trial that their client acted in self-defense when Lee, under the influence of cocaine and ketamine, lunged at Momeni while brandishing a knife. The defense claimed that when Momeni made a “bad joke” about the IT executive’s desire to attend a strip club rather than spend time with his family, Lee became unpredictable and hostile.
As they consider Momeni’s fate, jurors are reviewing thousands of pieces of evidence and 21 days of occasionally acrimonious testimony.
Attorney Shannon Dugan watched the trial from the courtroom the entire time. She told CBS News Bay Area that the defendant may benefit from the jury’s inability to reach a verdict just yet.
“If everybody agrees quickly on the evidence and on the law, they could come back with a verdict of guilty faster, although there’s always the exceptions,” Dugan stated. However, I also believe that this jury is making a lot of effort to get it right. They take their work very seriously, and I believe they bear a great deal of responsibility for both sides.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.