Current:Home > MyFormer TikToker Ali Abulaban Found Guilty in 2021 Murders of His Wife and Her Friend -ForexStream
Former TikToker Ali Abulaban Found Guilty in 2021 Murders of His Wife and Her Friend
View
Date:2025-04-15 19:52:37
A verdict has been reached in the case regarding former TikToker Ali Abulaban.
On May 29, a jury in San Diego, Calif., found the social media personality—who went by "JinnKid"— guilty of two counts of first-degree murder in the case regarding the killings of his wife Ana Abulaban and her friend Ray Barron.
In a video of the verdict shared by CBS San Diego, the gallery can be heard cheering as the conviction was revealed and Abulaban can be seen breaking down in tears.
While Abulaban initially pleaded not guilty to the charges back in 2021, he admitted to the killings during the trial that began earlier this month, per the outlet. The jury was then tasked with determining whether this constituted as first or second-degree murder (and if his actions were intended and premeditated) or voluntary manslaughter done in a heat of passion.
As seen in footage from the trial shared by Court TV, Abulaban—who'd accused Ana of cheating on him—detailed how he'd been recording his estranged wife to see if she was with another man and how he went to the apartment they used to live in together with a gun, found her and Barron on the couch and shot them in 2021.
"Before I could stop myself, I just f--king snapped," Abulaban said on the stand. "My gun was in my hand, and next thing I'm shooting and I can't stop."
However, during closing arguments, prosecutor Taren Brast argued that Abulaban did not act out of heat of passion.
"There is not of heat passion when you walk in on your separated wife who is not with you on the couch with someone else, fully clothed, not having sex," she said, as seen on Court TV. "And heat of passion does not apply when you walk into an apartment that you had bugged with a keycard you are not supposed to have to a fight that no one else knew was happening but you, and you brought a gun. That is not heat of passion."
Meanwhile, Jodi Green for the defense argued Abulaban—who shared daughter Amira with Ana—did act out of heat of passion and pointed to his "spiraling" mental health and cocaine use.
"Yes, he killed Ana—the woman he loved, the mother of his beautiful daughter Amira—and he killed Ray, a man with whom Ana was having an affair," she said, as shown on Court TV. "And he cannot undo what he has done, but he did not murder them. He is not a murderer."
Abulaban is set to be sentenced on June 28.
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (2654)
Related
- Tree trimmer dead after getting caught in wood chipper at Florida town hall
- Fired Washington sheriff’s deputy sentenced to prison for stalking wife, violating no-contact order
- Prince William's Cheeky Response to His Most-Used Emoji Will Make You Royally Flush
- Penguins' Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang set record for longevity as teammates
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- Indiana woman charged after daughter falls from roof of moving car and fractures skull, police say
- No. 1 pick Connor Bedard scores first career goal in slick play vs. Boston Bruins
- Taiwan is closely watching the Hamas-Israel war for lessons as it faces intimidation from China
- Military service academies see drop in reported sexual assaults after alarming surge
- These House Republicans say they won't vote for Steve Scalise as House speaker
Ranking
- Trump issues order to ban transgender troops from serving openly in the military
- Powerball jackpot: Winning ticket sold in California for $1.76 billion lottery prize
- Map, aerial images show where Hamas attacked Israeli towns near Gaza Strip
- Suniva says it will restart production of a key solar component at its Georgia factory
- Google unveils a quantum chip. Could it help unlock the universe's deepest secrets?
- Texas woman accused of killing pro cyclist escaped police custody after doctor's appointment
- Arrest made after 3 stabbed at Atlanta airport, including police officer
- COVID relief funds spark effort that frees man convicted of 1997 murder in Oklahoma he says he didn't commit
Recommendation
NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
Federal judge won’t block suspension of right to carry guns in some New Mexico parks, playgrounds
Palestinian-American family stuck in Gaza despite pleas to US officials
Air quality has been horrible this year — and it's not just because of wildfire smoke
Buckingham Palace staff under investigation for 'bar brawl'
NFL appeal in Jon Gruden emails lawsuit gets Nevada Supreme Court hearing date
Online hate surges after Hamas attacks Israel. Why everyone is blaming social media.
Syria says Israeli airstrikes hit airports in Damascus and Aleppo, damaging their runways