A San Francisco jury has found Nima Momeni guilty of second-degree murder in the stabbing of Bob Lee, the creator of Cash App and former Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Block. According to NBC News Bay Area, the jury delivered the verdict on Tuesday, finding Momeni not guilty of first-degree murder, which implies that the murder was not premeditated.

Lee, 43, was fatally stabbed on the streets of downtown San Francisco in April 2023. The trial revealed a complex and dramatic sequence of events leading up to his death. Prosecutors alleged that Lee's two-day drug binge with Khazar Momeni, the sister of his murderer, preceded his death. During this escapade, prosecutors claimed that Lee's friend and drug dealer sexually assaulted Khazar, leading to a heated exchange in which Nima ultimately stabbed Lee with a kitchen knife from his sister's home.

However, the defense presented a contrasting narrative. Nima Momeni testified that he was out on a walk with Lee under the Bay Bridge on the night of the stabbing, attempting to convince Lee to spend more time at home with his family instead of partying. The defense alleged that Lee became frustrated and attacked Momeni with a knife during that conversation, prompting Momeni to retaliate in self-defense and grab the weapon from Lee. Momeni claimed he had no animosity towards Lee.

Despite the defense's claims, video evidence of the event suggested that Momeni was the aggressor, and forensic testing found Momeni's DNA on the knife's handle. This evidence likely played a crucial role in the jury's decision to convict Momeni of second-degree murder.

The punishment for first-degree murder is often harsher than that for second-degree murder, but both typically come with lengthy prison sentences. Momeni is now facing 16 years to life in prison, with sentencing to come at a later date.

Bob Lee was a prominent figure in the technology world, having led technology development at Jack Dorsey's Block, where he created the mobile payment service Cash App. He was also an investor in SpaceX, Clubhouse, Tile, and Figma. In his early 20s, he contributed to the development of the Android operating system at Google.

At the time of his death, Lee's colleagues and peers praised his contributions to the technology world. The CEO of Figma, Dylan Field, noted how Lee first met with him when he was 14 and was an early supporter of Figma. Jack Dorsey said Lee was instrumental in creating Square, which later became Block.

Initially, many speculated that the tech executive's death was random and related to San Francisco's homelessness and crime problem. However, it turned out that Lee knew the killer, adding a layer of complexity to the case.

The verdict brings closure to a tragic event that shook the technology community. As the industry continues to mourn the loss of Bob Lee, the guilty verdict serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of violence and the importance of justice.