Nima Momeni, the man convicted of killing Cash App founder Bob Lee, is now attempting to challenge the case by arguing that racial bias played a role in the way he was treated in San Francisco — adding a new and highly contentious dimension to a murder case that has already attracted intense public scrutiny.

Momeni was found guilty of second-degree murder in December 2024 after a lengthy trial over Lee’s fatal stabbing in San Francisco in April 2023. Prosecutors argued that Momeni attacked Lee after confronting him about his relationship with Momeni’s sister, while the defense maintained that Momeni acted in self-defense.

The latest legal move comes as Momeni continues to fight the consequences of that conviction. He faces a potential sentence of 16 years to life, but his sentencing has been delayed while his new attorney reviews the extensive trial record and considers a motion for a new trial.

The racial-bias argument adds another layer to Momeni’s attempt to overturn the verdict. His legal team is challenging aspects of the proceedings and has raised concerns about how the case was handled, while prosecutors have continued to defend the integrity of the conviction.

The case has always been unusually high-profile because of Lee’s status in Silicon Valley. Lee helped create Cash App and was a prominent technology executive before he was fatally stabbed at age 43. His death sparked intense attention far beyond San Francisco, with early coverage focusing heavily on the city’s crime problems and the circumstances surrounding the killing.

At trial, Momeni himself took the stand and offered a dramatically different account of the confrontation. He testified that Lee became aggressive after Momeni made what he described as a “bad joke,” and that Lee produced a knife. Momeni claimed he disarmed Lee before leaving, saying he did not know Lee had been seriously wounded. Prosecutors challenged that account, pointing to surveillance footage and evidence that Lee suffered multiple stab wounds, including a fatal wound to his heart.

Now, with a new legal team examining the record, the battle has shifted from what happened on the street that night to whether Momeni received a fair trial in the first place. His lawyers’ arguments could determine whether the case moves toward a new trial, an appeal or eventually a final sentence.

The timing is significant. More than a year after the conviction, Momeni still has not been sentenced, while his attorneys continue to examine transcripts and pursue potential grounds for further legal action. That prolonged delay has frustrated both sides and left Bob Lee’s family still waiting for finality.

What makes the latest development particularly intriguing is that Momeni is no longer simply arguing that the evidence was misunderstood. His legal challenge is turning the spotlight onto the courtroom itself — and whether factors beyond the evidence may have influenced the outcome.

Now, one controversial claim from Momeni’s new legal strategy could become the most important part of his fight for a new trial — and it may force the court to take a closer look at what happened behind the scenes during the original proceedings.