The trial has commenced for social media sensation Ali Abulaban, also known as "JinnKid" on TikTok, who stands accused of the cold-blooded murder of his wife and her male friend in a San Diego high-rise on October 21, 2021. Ali Abulaban has entered a not guilty plea to two counts of murder with gun allegations and special circumstances for killing multiple people. If convicted, he faces a sentence of life in prison without parole, as reported by The San Diego Union-Tribune.
During the opening arguments, Deputy District Attorney Taren Brast depicted the shootings as an "execution," painting Abulaban as "jealous, controlling and violent." It was alleged that after secretly copying an apartment key and installing a listening app on his daughter's iPad, Abulaban listened in as his estranged wife, Ana, shared laughs with Rayburn Cardenas Barron. Enraged, he set off on the 9-mile journey to confront them, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Witnesses and evidence presented to the jury detailed how a security camera captured Abulaban's ascent to the 35th floor of Spire San Diego. Upon entering the apartment, the prosecution alleges that he found Ana Abulaban and Barron on a couch and shot them in rapid succession—a brutal series of events caught on an audio recording initiated by Abulaban himself. Moments later, he allegedly texted a photo of the crime scene to his mother before he ultimately made a 911 call, feigning the discovery of the bodies. This narrative was pieced together by audio recordings, the neighbor's doorbell cameras, and Abulaban's subsequent actions caught on camera, as reported by NBC San Diego.
In stark contrast, Deputy Public Defender Jodi Green argued the shootings occurred "in the heat of passion," while her client was battling untreated bipolar disorder and suffering from childhood traumas. His mental state was described as severely compromised, and Green suggested his actions were a result of psychological provocation rather than premeditation. "He was not in control, not in his right mind," Green told jurors in a statement from The San Diego Union-Tribune. She portrayed the marital relationship as volatile, with arguments often fueled by drug use, and projected her client as someone who had been "driven to the brink" by his wife.
The legal proceedings are anticipated to continue over the next month. As the trial progresses, Ali Abulaban is expected to take the stand. The case has gained national attention, not only due to Abulaban's social media fame but also for the grim use of the technology.
