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Momeni was recorded by police making “stabbing motions”, the jury was told
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Momeni was recorded by police making “stabbing motions”, the jury was told

Jurors in Nima Momeni’s murder trial were shown secretly recorded video Monday of the defendant making “stabbing motions” miming how he killed Cash app founder Bob Lee, according to the indictment.

But the defense argues the video is far from conclusive without proper context.

San Francisco Police Officer David Goff told the jury he secretly shot a video showing Momeni talking to a private investigator who worked for Momeni’s former defense attorney. The officer testified that Momeni made three “stabbing motions” and then made a motion as if he were throwing an object. The exchange was captured about a week after Lee was killed.

But when questioned by the defense, Goff confirmed there was no sound in the video he shot. The defense suggests that their client’s movements could very well show Lee’s arm movements, supporting their claim. Momeni took the drug-addled knife from Lee and fatally stabbed Lee in self-defense.

KTVU legal analyst Michael Cardoza said what the video shows will ultimately be in the eyes of the jury.

“The jury will have to decide how much weight to give to this video,” Cardoza said. “The judge ruled, it’s in evidence, but the jury is going to interpret it as a motion by Bob Lee or it’s going to be ‘this is the defendant showing the investigator how he stabbed Bob Lee.’ That’s up to the jury.”

Outside court, Bradford Cohen, one of Momeni’s five attorneys, said some of the motions his client made did not line up with certain injuries Lee suffered.

“I don’t know what the discussion was — and it’s all attorney-client privilege anyway,” Cohen said. “But in short, what they said they would show and what they actually show, I think is a major difference between the two.”

The jury also heard Monday from Dr. Ellen Moffatt, the medical examiner who performed Lee’s autopsy. She said Lee suffered three stab wounds, including one that pierced his heart.

Lee’s ex-wife, Krista Lee

Bob Lee’s ex-wife Krista Lee dabbed her eyes during autopsy testimony. Lee’s brother and father decided not to be present when the coroner testified. The trial resumes on Tuesday.

Henry Lee is a KTVU crime reporter. Email Henry at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @henrykleeKTVU and www.facebook.com/henrykleefan