Friend of accused murderer's sister and new DNA expert both testify

Defense arguments opened today in the trial of Nima Momeni, who is accused of stabbing Cash App founder Bob Lee to death last year. Momeni's lawyers today called Greg Hampikian, a DNA expert, to the stand who claimed there was a “serious problem” with the DNA on the knife that allegedly killed Lee.

Hampikian testified that the analysis omitted a key footnote that primarily noted Momeni's DNA on the gun's handle. This footnote would have included the possibility of a misreading.

Momeni is accused of stabbing Bob Lee because of what he previously perceived as inappropriate behavior toward Momeni's sister Khazar on April 3, 2023. While Lee saw Momeni's sister before the stabbing, Momeni's defense attorneys have tried to discredit that motive by claiming that Momeni only had a fight with another man, Jeremy Boivin, because he gave Khazar drugs and allegedly sexually abused her.

Perhaps to bolster that argument or simply to provide some insight into the behavior of those involved the day before the stabbing, defense attorneys also called Aranza Villegas today. She is a friend of Khazar Momeni, who had seen both Momeni siblings and Boivin the evening before the stabbing.

Another look at DNA

DNA analysis of the knife handle found near the scene where Lee was fatally stabbed revealed Momeni's DNA. Meanwhile, Lee's DNA was on the blade.

However, much of Hampikian's testimony today underscores the variability and uncertainty of the DNA evidence. Hampikian, who has extensive experience as a biological sciences professor at Boise State University and founded the Idaho Innocence Project, reportedly helped exonerate Amanda Knox in the 2007 murder of her roommate. He was paid more than $12,000 for examining evidence and testifying at the trial.

“Nothing in a DNA probability ratio is an absolute identification of a person,” Hampikian said. “It’s information that helps fact-checkers reach their own conclusions.”

Prosecutors previously presented jurors with the San Francisco crime lab's DNA analysis in the case, but defense attorneys revealed today that prosecutors had omitted a footnote about possible “false” results.

While Momeni's DNA was most likely a 99 percent match to the DNA on the knife handle, the other 1 percent sample had a margin of error.