SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Tech marketing consultant Nima Momeni pleaded not responsible Thursday to a homicide cost within the stabbing demise of Money App founder Bob Lee on the streets of San Francisco.
Decide Victor Hwang ordered Momeni be stored in jail with out bail, saying there was a excessive likelihood his launch might end in nice bodily hurt to others. Momeni, who appeared in an orange jumpsuit, didn’t converse and his legal professional Paula Canny entered the plea on his behalf.
Lee’s demise on April 4 shocked San Francisco’s tech group. He created Money App, a cellular cost service, and was the chief product officer of the cryptocurrency MobileCoin.
He was discovered exterior a condominium constructing with three stab wounds, together with one within the coronary heart, shortly after 2:30 a.m. and was taken to a hospital the place he later died.
Prosecutors say Momeni, 38, drove Lee to a secluded spot and stabbed him over an obvious dispute associated to Momeni’s sister, Khazar Elyassnia. She appeared in courtroom Thursday alongside Momeni’s mom. Prosecutors stated that Momeni’s DNA was discovered on the blade deal with of the knife and Lee’s blood was on the blade.
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Canny acknowledged the 2 males argued within the automobile earlier than the incident. She stated Momeni’s actions have been each a measure of self-defense and an accident.
“Individuals can have a combat and never know that any individual’s been mortally wounded,” she advised reporters exterior courtroom.
Momeni was arrested final month and charged with homicide primarily based on surveillance video and testimony from a good friend who was with Lee the day earlier than he died. Particulars have been outlined in a movement to detain Momeni.
Paul Kuroda/ The Normal by way of AP, Pool
The 2 males had been hanging out with Elyassnia, Momeni’s sister, the day earlier than the stabbing, based on the movement. The good friend, who was not recognized by prosecutors, stated Momeni later questioned Lee about whether or not his sister had been partaking in inappropriate conduct and Lee stated she had not.
The good friend and Lee later parted methods, and surveillance video confirmed Lee getting into the Millennium Tower, the place Elyassnia lives, simply after midnight. Video footage then confirmed Lee and Momeni leaving the constructing collectively shortly after 2 a.m. and driving off in Momeni’s automobile.
Prosecutors say that Momeni drove to a darkish and secluded spot, in an space of condos and empty tech places of work, and attacked Lee with a kitchen knife. He then sped away “and left sufferer to slowly die,” based on the movement.