Title: New Details Emerge in Fatal Stabbing Case of Tech Executive Bob Lee
Subtitle: Defense questions police investigation at preliminary hearing for suspect Nima Momeni
San Francisco, CA – New details surrounding the fatal stabbing of tech executive Bob Lee emerged on Monday as prosecutors presented their case against Nima Momeni, an acquaintance of the victim. During Momeni’s preliminary hearing, defense attorneys repeatedly raised concerns about the thoroughness of the police investigation following Lee’s killing.
According to San Francisco police officers, they responded to reports of a stabbing on Main Street near Harrison Street on April 4 at around 2:35 a.m. Officers found Lee suffering from stab wounds, and he was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Prosecutors allege that Momeni, a 38-year-old IT consultant, killed Lee with a kitchen knife during a fight over Lee’s interactions with Momeni’s sister, Khazar Momeni.
The defense called into question the police’s failure to fingerprint the knife used in the crime and the limited questioning of a homeless man found near the scene. The defense also highlighted the role of a suspected drug dealer who allegedly gave Momeni’s sister date rape drugs. It was revealed that Lee and Khazar Momeni were together at the home of the drug dealer just hours before the killing.
During the preliminary hearing, several witnesses took the stand to provide evidence. San Francisco police officer Cedric Hood testified that he and another officer attempted to resuscitate Lee when they found him bleeding on the street. Officer Hood also mentioned that a homeless man near the crime scene was briefly questioned but was found to be incoherent.
Crime scene investigator Rosalyn Check testified that she found a 4-inch kitchen knife with blood on it in a locked Caltrans parking lot near the scene. She marked a trail of blood drops from the parking lot to the Portside apartment complex, where Lee was seen banging on the glass doors while bleeding. Check also mentioned finding blood on a wall and a call box outside the building.
Officer Milad Rashidian testified to retrieving video footage from 13 locations related to the investigation, including the Millennium Tower where Khazar Momeni has an apartment. The video showed Lee and Nima Momeni leaving Khazar’s apartment together before the stabbing occurred.
Sgt. Brent Dittmer, the lead homicide inspector in the case, testified about finding texts between Lee and Khazar Momeni on Lee’s phone. Defense attorney Saam Zangeneh challenged the motive presented by the prosecution by referring to Dittmer’s own case notes, which indicated that no sexual or assault-related incidents had occurred during the party at the drug dealer’s home.
In light of the new developments, defense attorney Anthony Brass expressed concerns about the lack of completeness in the police work. The hearing was presided over by newly appointed Judge Harry Dorfman.
The preliminary hearing will continue as the prosecution presents more evidence to determine if there is enough evidence to proceed with a trial.