Home › Case Library › People v. Momeni (Racial Justice Act motion)
Awaiting decisionPeople v. Momeni (Racial Justice Act motion)
Will the court reject Momeni's Racial Justice Act challenge to his murder conviction?
Where the case stands
Judge Thompson found a limited prima facie RJA showing (July 2026) on claims about dehumanizing prosecution rhetoric ("animal" references, keffiyeh emphasis); other claims dismissed. Evidentiary hearing held Aug 14, 2026.
Background
Tech consultant convicted of second-degree murder (Dec. 2024) for the April 4, 2023 stabbing of Cash App founder Bob Lee under the Bay Bridge. Sentencing (16-to-life exposure) has been repeatedly delayed while the defense presses a California Racial Justice Act challenge.
Charges
- Second-degree murder — convicted December 2024; unsentenced as of Aug. 2026
The arguments
Prosecution/State: The DA argues the bias evidence is thin and non-specific, and that the challenged 'honor killing'-adjacent language originated in the defendant's sister's own text messages, exempting it under the Act.
Defense: Defense argues stereotypes about Middle Eastern men infected the prosecution and trial — citing the prosecutor's rhetoric — and seeks relief under the Racial Justice Act before sentencing.
The record
- Surveillance footage. Grainy surveillance video of the fatal encounter on Main Street, shown to the jury at trial.
- Defense animation. Defense-produced animation of its version of the stabbing, provided to and published by Mission Local.
- Prosecutor's language. RJA motion centers on the prosecution's trial rhetoric, including 'honor killing' framing, as evidence of racial/ethnic bias.
The line-setting read at the time this market opened
Racial Justice Act relief after a completed jury trial is uncommon and the DA calls the showing thin; but the judge held a full evidentiary hearing rather than summarily denying, and California RJA case law is still developing.
Awaiting decision — Judge Thompson's ruling on the Racial Justice Act motion following the Aug 14, 2026 evidentiary hearing; no ruling date announced. Sentencing remains on hold. The ruling is posted here, and on the board, the moment it's confirmed by two or more independent news organizations.
Sources
- SFist — Momeni back in court arguing for retrial (Aug. 14, 2026)
- SF Standard — Momeni seeks retrial (Apr. 23, 2026)
- Mission Local — racial-bias allegations delay sentencing (Jul. 2026)
- Mission Local — defense animation and closing-argument videos (Dec. 2024)
Public record
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