Nima Momeni, the alleged killer of tech mogul Bob Lee, pleaded not guilty in a San Francisco courtroom Thursday morning.
A judge denied granting bail to keep Momeni behind bars as he awaits a preliminary hearing.
On April 4, Bob Lee was stabbed to death near the Bay Bridge. Momeni was named as the primary suspect and was arrested eight days later at his Emeryville loft and charged with murder.
Before Lee’s death, he was socializing and drinking with Momeni’s younger sister, Khazar Elyassnia. According to prosecutors, a witness saw Momeni confront Lee to know if he was doing drugs or anything inappropriate with his sister.
Defense attorney Paula Canny said her client is not a murderer and that he didn’t try to flee before his arrest shows his innocence.
Momeni has no previous convictions for violent crime, but prosecutors successfully argued he should remain in jail.
