Current:Home > MyFormer TikToker Ali Abulaban Found Guilty in 2021 Murders of His Wife and Her Friend -Capitatum
Former TikToker Ali Abulaban Found Guilty in 2021 Murders of His Wife and Her Friend
SignalHub Quantitative Think Tank Center View
Date:2025-04-06 06:35:27
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! (9)
Related
- Chief beer officer for Yard House: A side gig that comes with a daily swig.
- Put Your Gift Card to Good Use at Nordstrom's Half-Yearly Sale That Includes up to 70% off SKIMS & More
- Vikings tab rookie QB Jaren Hall to start Sunday night vs. Green Bay
- New Mexico proposes regulations to reuse fracking wastewater
- Megan Fox's ex Brian Austin Green tells Machine Gun Kelly to 'grow up'
- Ja'Marr Chase on Chiefs' secondary: Not 'like they got a Jalen Ramsey on their squad'
- Dancing With the Stars’ Britt Stewart and Daniel Durant Are Engaged: See Her Ring
- Iowa deputy cleared in shooting of man accused of killing grocery store worker
- NCAA hits former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh with suspension, show-cause for recruiting violations
- 'I wished it had been me': Husband weeps after wife falls 70 feet off New York cliff
Ranking
- Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
- Indonesia’s navy pushes a boat suspected of carrying Rohingya refugees out of its waters
- Federal judge OKs new GOP-drawn congressional map in Georgia
- Public libraries reveal their most borrowed books of 2023
- Clay Aiken's son Parker, 15, makes his TV debut, looks like his father's twin
- Texans quarterback CJ Stroud says he'll start vs. Titans after recovering from concussion
- Russia unleashes one of the year’s biggest aerial barrages against Ukrainian targets
- Social media apps made $11 billion from children and teens in 2022
Recommendation
Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
A Qatari court reduces death sentence handed to 8 retired Indian navy officers charged with spying
Las Vegas expects this New Year's Eve will set a wedding record — and a pop-up airport license bureau is helping with the rush
King Charles gathers with royal family, gives Christmas address urging people to care for each other and the Earth
The 'Rebel Ridge' trailer is here: Get an exclusive first look at Netflix movie
Man dies when transport vehicle crashes through ice on Minnesota lake
Mexican officials clear border camp as US pressure mounts to limit migrant crossings
Almost 5 million blenders sold at Costco, Target and Walmart are recalled because blades are breaking off