As they prepare for the sixth day of deliberations in the case on Thursday, jurors in the trial of Nima Momeni, the man accused of killing Cash App inventor Bob Lee in San Francisco, are facing a deadline.
The judge established the “hardship date” for jury selection months ago, and it is December 12. Jurors will have the option to withdraw from the trial and their jury duty if a judgment is not rendered by Thursday evening.
Deliberations must be restarted and an alternate must be selected if any jurors want to withdraw from the trial. A mistrial will also be called if there are not enough alternates to complete the jury.
At 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, the jury is scheduled to meet once more to begin deliberations.
The judge has instructed the jury that whatever verdict they render during the trial must be unanimous.
Saam Zangeneh, the defense lawyer, was questioned on Wednesday about the length of the proceedings thus far. Zangeneh did not appear to believe that the jury’s inclination could be determined by the length of the discussions.
“This is one of the longer deliberations that I’ve dealt with personally, but that doesn’t mean anything you know?” he replied. “Listen, they are carrying out their duties. All I can say is that.
The defense submitted a plea for a mistrial late in Tuesday’s discussions, claiming that prosecution witness Borzu Mohabezzi had lied on the stand and that the prosecution was aware of it. The judge swiftly rejected the motion.
According to Mohabezzi, Lee was a close friend.He described the narcotics they used while having a party with the defendant’s sister the day before Lee was killed in his October evidence.
Just over a week ago, on December 4, jurors were presented with the case after 21 days of testimony, which occasionally turned heated as the defendant sparred with the prosecution on multiple occasions during cross-examination.
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. Momeni attacked the computer executive, according to the prosecution, because he introduced Momeni’s sister Khazar to a suspected drug dealer who allegedly fed her narcotics and sexually assaulted her.
Momeni’s attorneys contended during 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 computer executive’s desire to go to a strip club rather than spend time with his family, Lee became unpredictable and hostile.
Momeni faces a 26-year-to-life jail sentence for first-degree murder, the charge against her. Jurors are also deliberating about manslaughter and second-degree murder.
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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.