The man accused of killing tech executive Bob Lee pleaded not guilty to murder charges in San Francisco court Thursday morning and was denied bail.
In court and at a briefing after, Nima Momeni's attorney, Paula Canny, seemed to concede that police arrested the right person, but Canny said it wasn't a murder.
"My defense is it's a combination of an accident and self-defense, absolutely," she said.
In court, the assistant district attorney said they found Momeni's DNA on the handle of the suspected murder weapon – a four-inch kitchen knife – that was recovered close to where investigators believe Lee was stabbed. The assistant DA also said the kitchen knife matched the brand of knives at the home of Momeni's sister Khazar.
According to court filings, investigators have video of Lee and Momeni leaving the Millennium Tower, where Khazar lives, shortly before Lee was stabbed.
Khazar was among those in the courtroom Thursday, but she did not make any statements when she left.
District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said investigators have not talked with Khazar about the case.
"Khazar Momeni declined to be interviewed," Jenkins said.
Jenkins said she's satisified with the judge's decision to hold Nima Momeni in custody.
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When asked what she thinks of Nima Momeni being ordered to remain in custody, one of Lee's family members said, "I'm very happy. He's a menace."
Nima Momeni's arraignment had been delayed multiple times, including earlier this month, because Canny said she did not receive the autopsy and toxicology report with enough time to review it. Canny said the report is key in their defense.
According to Lee's toxicology screen, several drugs were present in his system at the time of his death.
