VERDICT WATCH CA - Cash App Creator, Bob Lee, Stabbed to Death, San Francisco, Apr 2023 *Arrest*

[arielilane]

bbm (possible trial date set, tomorrow).


For the past seven months, Bob Lee's alleged killer, Nima Momeni, has been awaiting trial in a solitary jail cell in San Bruno. Since he was arrested in April, the only visitor he’s had in the lockup at 1 Moreland Drive beside his attorneys has been his mother.

He sought, unsuccessfully, to be released on bail in the fatal stabbing of the tech executive under the Bay Bridge in San Francisco. The only times Momeni has been allowed to leave the jail are for periodic court hearings—the next of which will be Thursday, when a trial date may finally be set in the murder case that transfixed San Francisco and much of the country.

Otherwise, Momeni has been confined to an isolation cell with a metal toilet, a bunk bed and a desk.

In Jail, Nima Momeni Has Books, Few Visitors

Photos from jail reveal what Bob Lee’s alleged killer has been reading.

sfstandard.com

Nov. 28, 2023

 

[arielilane]

Khazar Momeni, Sister of Alleged Bob Lee Killer, Arrested in DUI Hit-and-Run Crash

The sister of Bob Lee's alleged killer Nima Momeni was arrested Monday morning.

sfstandard.com

Nov. 27, 2023

 

[arielilane]

.@SFPD confirms Khazar Momeni (seen below) was arrested Monday 11:08am @ Geary & Larkin on DUI, 2 counts of hit & run, failure to drive in lane & failure to provide insurance at scene charges. Momeni is sister of Nima Momeni, who is charged in stabbing death of Bob Lee.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1729549060745379874

 

[10ofRods]

Really appreciating your updates on this thread, @arielilane

 

[arielilane]

The sister of Nima Momeni, Khazar Momeni Elyassnia, has been arrested for hit and run and DUI in San Francisco. This is video from one of her appearances at a hearing for her brother who’s accused of murdering tech executive Bob Lee. (1/3)

https://twitter.com/x/status/1729622720877404422

Khazar Momeni Elyassnia has been at the center of the murder investigation since her brother was arrested. Prosecutors and Defense attorneys say her connection to Bob Lee is key to the way the night unfolded when Lee was fatally stabbed. (2/3)

https://twitter.com/x/status/1729622761746661873

Meanwhile, a hearing is scheduled for Thursday to set a trial date in the murder charges against Nima Momeni. (3/3)

https://twitter.com/x/status/1729622798136389929

https://twitter.com/svqjournalist

 

[arielilane]

Nima and Khazar Momeni’s mom and Nima’s attorneys outside court this morning where his trial date in the Bob Lee stabbing is expected to be set today. On Monday, Khazar was arrested for DUI/hit & run.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1730270594799956075

 

[arielilane]

Nima Momeni’s mom had no response for how her daughter is doing following Monday’s arrest.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1730279144276291778

Smiles from Nima Momeni’s defense team who were waiting for attorney Tony Brass to arrive at court. We’re expecting to hear some motions this morning. Attorneys are not happy that pictures of Momeni were published of him in jail ahead of Bob Lee murder trial.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1730279785430130806

https://twitter.com/MelanieWoodrow

 

[arielilane]

Tentative March 15th trial for Nima Momeni (in absence of motion to change venue). Attorneys talking now about
@sfstandard article which included pictures obtained of Momeni in jail which they say was “highly prejudicial.” Judge says SF Sheriff’s Office investigating.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1730283390577078403

Breaking - Nima Momeni’s attorneys just filed a motion for a change of venue in Bob Lee murder trial.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1730282057102979226

 

[arielilane]

Superior Court Judge Loretta Giorgi set a hearing regarding the motion for a change of venue for Jan. 25.
...
Brass said that once a date has been set, each side has to share their witnesses with each other.

Correction: This story has been updated to note the change-of-venue motion will be considered at a hearing Jan. 25.

Bob Lee Killing: Nima Momeni Wants Trial Moved Out of SF

A March 15 trial date was set, but Momeni's lawyers seek to change venue.

sfstandard.com

Published Nov. 30, 2023 • 10:07am

 

[arielilane]

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — A trial date for accused Bob Lee killer Nima Momeni was set for March 15, 2024, during a court appearance Thursday in which Momeni’s lawyers requested a change of venue. Attorneys for Momeni expressed disgust at the publication of photos showing Momeni in his cell by a local news outlet.

Momeni’s lawyers said in their 27 years of practicing law, they had never had pretrial images like the ones that were published taken without a client’s consent. The judge at Thursday’s proceedings said that an internal investigation was underway regarding the photos.


Nima Momeni attorneys request change of venue, trial date set

Updated: Nov 30, 2023 / 10:33 AM PST

 

[10ofRods]

Tentative March 15th trial for Nima Momeni (in absence of motion to change venue). Attorneys talking now about
@sfstandard article which included pictures obtained of Momeni in jail which they say was “highly prejudicial.” Judge says SF Sheriff’s Office investigating.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1730283390577078403

Breaking - Nima Momeni’s attorneys just filed a motion for a change of venue in Bob Lee murder trial.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1730282057102979226

Of course they did. (I am being somewhat flippant. I am not surprised, but I am rolling my eyes a little).

San Francisco Courts are a system unto themselves. I doubt they'll get their change of venue, but now they're preserving rights for appeal, obviously.

Aren't all his lawyers from FL and operating under a temporary deal (IIRC, they are under the license of a CA lawyer, but AFAIK, his main lawyers are not expert in CA law)?

If I were the judge, I'd send them over to San Bernardino County (Barstow Court is the one I bet SBC would choose). Or Tulare County. Or Inyo! Does the receiving County have to agree to host the trial, I wonder? Inyo would be perfect - no one will have heard of this case, the lawyers and their client will get to stay in a tiny town. Independence, CA is a beautiful place. Population: 761

Inyo County's entire population is only about 19,000. Bishop is the biggest town but not the county seat. Small towns, rural, ranchers, no wild partiers, generally conservative. Inyo County might like the press, though (it has a tourist presence - Bishop is a great little town and probably the only one with hotels where the families could stay). The highest rated one is a newish Holiday Inn Express.

Thing is, wouldn't SF County have to foot the bill for the entire staff needed to support the State? So these small towns I'm mentioning would probably be the only affordable ones in California. The Florida lawyers will have to get used to a very different travel schedule. No SFO and public transportation anywhere else in CA. Barstow is not near a major airport, but it is an hour away from a couple.

Again, I doubt their motion will be granted. The overburdened courts of Los Angeles County rarely take cases from other counties - but I believe Orange County has done. Mendocino County would be another place where a lot of people would be out of the loop regarding SF news (esp as this case hasn't been covered much by SFGate).

IMO. Always interested in and speculating about pre-trial matters.

 

[10ofRods]

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — A trial date for accused Bob Lee killer Nima Momeni was set for March 15, 2024, during a court appearance Thursday in which Momeni’s lawyers requested a change of venue. Attorneys for Momeni expressed disgust at the publication of photos showing Momeni in his cell by a local news outlet.

Momeni’s lawyers said in their 27 years of practicing law, they had never had pretrial images like the ones that were published taken without a client’s consent. The judge at Thursday’s proceedings said that an internal investigation was underway regarding the photos.


Nima Momeni attorneys request change of venue, trial date set

Updated: Nov 30, 2023 / 10:33 AM PST

The photo is a bit intrusive, I must say. And of course, it's the SF Standard that published it. KRON's coverage of the motion (second link) is good. It makes it clear that Momeni's lawyers are seeking a move out of the entire Bay Area - which in some people's minds runs from the Sacramento Delta, north to Napa and Sonoma, and of course, all the counties directly on the Bay (SF, Marin, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda, Solano). Heck, same argument could be made for Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties as well (people do commute and read the same Bay area media, IMO).

So it really would have to be in one of the low-population counties (unless San Diego or Orange Counties are up for the task).

IMO.

 

[arielilane]

Attorneys for Nima Momeni, the accused killer of tech exec Bob Lee, requested today to move murder case out of San Francisco.They suggested Momeni won't get a fair trial because the city’s large tech population saw Lee as a “celebrity.”

https://twitter.com/x/status/1730301639238807977

Zangeneh even went so far as to suggest a connection between Lee and Michael Moritz, the owner of the Standard.

“I’m not sure if there’s a nexus between Bob Lee’s family and Big Tech and the San Francisco Standard,” Zangeneh said. “And if there’s some sort of like marriage that’s going on here to be able to influence the jury — there may be, but I’ll tell you what, we’re going to look into it.”

Nima Momeni’s attorneys claim tech bias in SF, move to take trial elsewhere

Attorneys for Nima Momeni, the accused killer of tech executive Bob Lee, have requested to have the murder case moved from San Francisco, where they

missionlocal.org

NOVEMBER 30, 2023

 

[arielilane]

The photo is a bit intrusive, I must say. And of course, it's the SF Standard that published it. KRON's coverage of the motion (second link) is good. It makes it clear that Momeni's lawyers are seeking a move out of the entire Bay Area - which in some people's minds runs from the Sacramento Delta, north to Napa and Sonoma, and of course, all the counties directly on the Bay (SF, Marin, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda, Solano). Heck, same argument could be made for Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties as well (people do commute and read the same Bay area media, IMO).

So it really would have to be in one of the low-population counties (unless San Diego or Orange Counties are up for the task).

IMO.

Yes, however, KRON, ought to have opted to use "tentative" concerning trial date March 15, 2024. moo

 

[arielilane]

If this case goes to trial, and don't see why it wouldn't, am sure mistrial will be heard some where along the way as well... it seems the norm - nowadays... change of venue... mistrial... change of venue... mistrial... just sayin...

 

[10ofRods]

Yes, however, KRON, ought to have opted to use "tentative" concerning trial date March 15, 2024. moo

True! I was puzzling over that as well. A small thing but in light of the motion for change of venue (and that is mentioned in the article) the reporter ought to have put "tentative" for sure.

Now that I've read the change of venue motion, I'm pondering whether the Defense's claim that the victim is a "celebrity" is enough for a venue change. They are claiming he's a "Bay Area celebrity," not a statewide one, I guess. I'd say that's possibly accurate - but not so sure that most San Franciscans, these days, are in Tech or will have heard of him.

I'm curious now to know what the Judge rules.

 

[arielilane]

@MelanieWoodrow

This is what Nima Momeni’s attorney Saam Zangeneh said to me when I asked him about the optics of Khazar Momeni’s arrest for DUI, hit&run on the Bob Lee murder case. Do you think he would have said this to one of my male colleagues?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1730457106854334628

12:21 AM · Dec 1, 2023

 

[arielilane]

@MelanieWoodrow


Some wild allegations in the motion for change of venue for Bob Lee murder trial including that former defense attorney Paula Canny gave Khazar Momeni’s cell phone to lead @SFPD detective w/out a warrant or court order & met with former SF Mayor Willie Brown about the case Pg.1

12:09 AM · Dec 1, 2023

https://twitter.com/x/status/1730454067103875180

Also allegations re: hostility from attorney Doug Horngrad who it was decided “would not stay on the defense team.” Momeni’s attorney writes Horngrad sent him threatening emails suggesting defense plea out the case to manslaughter. Pg.2


12:12 AM · Dec 1, 2023

Nima Momeni defense attorney Saam Zangeneh writes, “…what stands out here is that Mr. Horngrad also has frequent communication with former Mayor Willie Brown.” I spoke to Willie Brown tonight. He told me he never talked to Canny or Horngrad about the case. Pg.3

12:17 AM · Dec 1, 2023

 

[10ofRods]

Hmm. Very interesting developments. @arielilane

So, as I understand it, the two Florida lawyers are allowed to practice in California under the supervising license of a California attorney, which I believe was Mr. Horngrad. They aren't licensed to practice in California until they pass the California bar. I think they tried to use someone in Los Angeles, but ended up with a Bay Area lawyer.

Whose job it is, at least so I believe, to guide them through the differences between FL and CA law, which are numerous.

Sounds like the FL lawyers don't like the advice. I find it very strange that the FL lawyers brought up Willie Brown (WHY?) and that they thing Horngrad's excellent advice is...unpleasant? Hostile?

WOW. Is all I can say. Also, I never believed that FL lawyers would immediately grok California/Bay Area law.

IMO.

 

[arielilane]

Hmm. Very interesting developments. @arielilane

So, as I understand it, the two Florida lawyers are allowed to practice in California under the supervising license of a California attorney, which I believe was Mr. Horngrad. They aren't licensed to practice in California until they pass the California bar. I think they tried to use someone in Los Angeles, but ended up with a Bay Area lawyer.

Whose job it is, at least so I believe, to guide them through the differences between FL and CA law, which are numerous.

Sounds like the FL lawyers don't like the advice. I find it very strange that the FL lawyers brought up Willie Brown (WHY?) and that they thing Horngrad's excellent advice is...unpleasant? Hostile?

WOW. Is all I can say. Also, I never believed that FL lawyers would immediately grok California/Bay Area law.

IMO.

I'm not sure Horngrad is still advising... what are your thoughts? I supposed he is... Seems like a lot of high school activity going on behind the scenes (lol). As always, I appreciate your input.

Full article at link...

The motion argues that Horngrad, who frequently meets with Brown, insulted Cohen and Zangeneh and opined that Momeni should seek a plea deal.

Horngrad was introduced to Momeni’s family by Canny as a potential lawyer for Dr. Dino Elyassnia, Khazar Momeni’s husband, the filing said. After that introduction, Horngrad expressed interest in joining Momeni’s new legal team, even appearing at the group's first court hearing on June 13.

After Cohen and Zangeneh decided that Horngrad was not a good fit, according to the filing, he responded with “a series of angry, inflammatory, and accusatory emails. … The last one was so venomous that he accused me of ‘doing a first-class job of elevating a manslaughter to a murder.’ He then ended the email by calling me ‘an obvious prick.’”

Bob Lee Murder: Defense Lawyers Say Politics Damaged Case

Attorneys for Nima Momeni have asked a judge to move the trial out of SF.

sfstandard.com

Published Dec. 05, 2023 • 8:00am