The murder suspect in the case involving the death of Cash App founder Bob Lee, which initially raised concerns about safety in San Francisco, has pleaded not guilty to the charges of murder.

Nima Momeni, a 38-year-old tech entrepreneur, is accused of stabbing Mr. Lee, 43, in the early hours of April 4th in San Francisco.

Prosecutors claim that the murder was premeditated, as evidenced by CCTV footage showing Mr. Momeni driving to a secluded area.

The judge has ordered Mr. Momeni to be detained until the trial. His defense attorney, Paula Canny, argued against the prosecution’s strategy, citing limited visibility in the CCTV footage.

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The San Francisco Standard reported that the footage showed Mr. Lee walking down an empty alleyway, seemingly seeking assistance on the night of the attack.

He approached a parked car, revealing his wound, but the vehicle drove away before he collapsed. Prosecutors did not provide a motive but mentioned DNA evidence that contradicted the defense’s claim of self-defense.

The case has sparked concerns and criticism about rising crime in San Francisco, although it was later revealed that the suspect was acquainted with the victim.