Current:Home > MySurpassing:Former TikToker Ali Abulaban Found Guilty in 2021 Murders of His Wife and Her Friend -Wealth Evolution Experts
Surpassing:Former TikToker Ali Abulaban Found Guilty in 2021 Murders of His Wife and Her Friend
Surpassing Quant Think Tank Center View
Date:2025-04-08 11:23:59
A verdict has been reached in the case regarding former TikToker Ali Abulaban.
On May 29,Surpassing 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! (1)
Related
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Ali Wong Tries to Set Up Hoda Kotb and Eric André on Date
- Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock reunite to talk surviving 'Speed,' 30 years later
- Dogs fatally attack a man behind a building in New York
- NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
- Atlantic City mayor and his wife plead not guilty to beating their daughter
- 'We will not be able to come': Hurricane Milton forces first responders to hunker down
- Tennis legend Rafael Nadal announces he will retire after Davis Cup Finals
- South Korean president's party divided over defiant martial law speech
- What makes transfer quarterbacks successful in college football? Experience matters
Ranking
- Appeals court scraps Nasdaq boardroom diversity rules in latest DEI setback
- How do I show my worth and negotiate the best starting salary? Ask HR
- Nicholas Pryor, Beverly Hills, 90210 and Risky Business Actor, Dead at 89
- A federal judge will hear more evidence on whether to reopen voter registration in Georgia
- Warm inflation data keep S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq under wraps before Fed meeting next week
- Jax Taylor Makes Surprise House of Villains Return—And Slams One Former Costar
- Seven NFL coaches on hot seat: Who's on notice after Jets fired Robert Saleh?
- What makes transfer quarterbacks successful in college football? Experience matters
Recommendation
Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
An inmate on trial with rapper Young Thug is now accused in a jailhouse bribery scheme
NFL MVP race: Lamar Jackson's stock is rising, but he's chasing rookie Jayden Daniels
Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock reunite to talk surviving 'Speed,' 30 years later
Moving abroad can be expensive: These 5 countries will 'pay' you to move there
16-year-old bicyclist struck, driven 4 miles while trapped on car's roof: Police
North Carolina governor signs Hurricane Helene relief bill
Delta’s Q3 profit fell below $1 billion after global tech outage led to thousands of cancellations