Attorneys for Bob Lee's accused killer rest their case

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Nima Momeni's defense attorneys called on their final witness and rested their case Tuesday afternoon. San Francisco jurors breathed a sigh of relief as the judge repeated, "Let that sink in, that's what he said, the defense rests. I think you deserve a day and a half off." 

Momeni, 40, of Emeryville, is charged with murdering Cash App founder Bob Lee on April 4, 2023 out of revenge for his sister, Khazar, prosecutors said.

The jury will return to the courtroom on Thursday, when prosecutors will call four more witnesses to the stand for their rebuttal. Those witnesses will be: Lauren Weiniger, Carlos Whitt, and two SFPD officers.

Earlier in the trial, Khazar testified that she was sexually assaulted by Lee's drug dealer the day before the homicide. Prosecutors said Momeni plotted to murder Lee because he was enraged about what happened to his sister, and was suspicious about Lee's "inappropriate" relationship with her.

Momeni testified on the stand for three days. He told jurors that he made a "bad joke" about Lee hanging out in strip clubs instead of with his family. Lee "exploded" over the joke and attacked Momeni with a knife, the accused killer testified.

Momeni testified, "I made a bad joke. I said if it was my last night in town, I’d go hang out with my family instead of f**king around in strip clubs. It set him off. He just blew up in front of me. He went from zero to one hundred." Momeni said he fought back in self-defense, and he didn't call 911 because he had no idea that Lee was injured during their altercation under the Bay Bridge.

Lee was stabbed three times, including a fatal blow through his heart. He left behind a blood trail on Main Street as he called 911 and desperately searched for anyone who would help him.

This breaking news story will be updated.