Cash App Founder Bob Lee Murder? Trial Begins for Tech Consultant

In a high-profile case that has captured nationwide attention, the trial of tech consultant Nima Momeni, charged with the fatal stabbing of Cash App founder Bob Lee, began on Monday in San Francisco. Momeni’s defense attorneys argue that their client had no motive to kill Lee, claiming instead that Momeni acted in self-defense against an aggressive Lee, who was allegedly under the influence of drugs at the time.

Defense Argues Self-Defense Against Drug-Fueled Attack

Nima Momeni’s lawyers, led by Saam Zangeneh, portrayed Lee as a man on a dangerous, multi-day drug binge leading up to the night of April 4, 2023. Zangeneh claimed that Lee had become paranoid and aggressive, even pulling out a knife during the altercation. “We feel that once we present this case … the only viable verdict is not guilty,” Zangeneh told the jury, arguing that Momeni was forced to defend himself.

According to the defense, Lee was high on cocaine and had barely slept in the days leading up to the fatal confrontation. They allege that Lee pulled a knife first, leaving Momeni with no option but to retaliate in self-defense. Momeni’s defense maintains that Lee’s erratic behavior and drug use were the catalysts for the deadly encounter.

Prosecution: A Premeditated Attack Over a Family Dispute

Prosecutors presented a starkly different narrative, asserting that Momeni carefully planned the attack after a heated dispute involving his younger sister, Khazar. Assistant District Attorney Omid Talai argued that Momeni became enraged after discovering that Lee had been spending time with his sister, leading him to take matters into his own hands.

Prosecutors allege that Momeni took a knife from his sister’s kitchen, drove Lee to a secluded area, and stabbed him multiple times, including a fatal blow to the heart. Talai described the incident as a deliberate killing, saying, “Stabbed through his heart and left to die, our victim was repeatedly stabbed.”

A Tragic End for a Celebrated Tech Entrepreneur

Bob Lee, 43, was the former chief product officer of the cryptocurrency platform MobileCoin. His death shocked the tech community, with many paying tribute to the entrepreneur’s generosity and innovation. Surveillance footage from that night shows Lee entering the Millennium Tower, where Momeni’s sister lived, and later leaving with Momeni after 2 a.m.

Additional security footage captured the two men in a remote area near the Bay Bridge, where the fatal stabbing took place. Prosecutors claim that Momeni discarded the knife and fled the scene. Police later recovered the murder weapon, which contained Momeni’s DNA on the handle and Lee’s DNA on the blade.

Trial Unfolds Amid High Emotions

The trial has been emotionally charged, with Lee’s family members attending the courtroom. They listened as the 911 call Lee made before his death was played, where he pleaded for help after being stabbed. On the other side, Momeni’s mother has been a constant presence, supporting her son, who has been in custody since his arrest shortly after the incident.

Prosecutors are expected to present key evidence, including text messages between Momeni and his sister, where Momeni hinted at preparing a rape case against Lee, believing that Lee had assaulted his sister. They also plan to show video footage that allegedly depicts Momeni reenacting the stabbing motions, which they claim discredits the self-defense argument.

Awaiting Justice

If convicted, Momeni faces a sentence of 26 years to life in prison. The trial is expected to last two months, as jurors hear arguments from both sides to determine whether Bob Lee’s death was a calculated murder or a tragic case of self-defense.

Family members of both the victim and the accused have thus far declined to comment, as they await the trial’s outcome.