The judge had to momentarily halt the reading of the verdict for a TikTok star convicted of killing his wife and her friend following enthusiastic reactions in the courtroom.
After deliberating for several hours over two days, a jury found Ali Abulaban guilty of two charges of first-degree murder along with firearms enhancements for the deaths of his wife, Ana Abulaban, and her friend, Rayburn Barron.
Crime
TikTok star accused in double murder takes stand in his defense
6:45 PM, May 22, 2024
Ali, who maintained his composure during the verdict reading, broke down and cried after the jury exited the courtroom. He is potentially facing a life sentence without parole when he is sentenced on June 28, 2024.
Although Ali never denied shooting and killing the victims, he argued that the shootings were a crime of passion after discovering his wife’s infidelity. However, prosecutors contended that Ali had intentionally set up surveillance in the apartment to catch his wife cheating, and he arrived with a loaded weapon already in his possession.
“He carefully considered his actions,” prosecutors stated. “He made the decision to kill before entering that apartment and fatally shot Ana and Ray.”
In a record-breaking courtroom testimony that spanned multiple days, Ali confessed to physically abusing Ana on several occasions.
“I lost control,” Ali admitted, recalling a specific incident in their bed. “I got on top of Ana and started hitting her.”
His lawyers argued that he was “emotionally, mentally, physically compromised” and did not premeditate the deadly assault.
