A young protege accused of beheading his tech CEO boss testified Monday in Manhattan Supreme Court that his mentor questioned his appearance before the attack, but did not immediately realize his life was in danger. Tyrese Haspil, 25, allegedly murdered Fahim Saleh, a venture capitalist and CEO of Nigeria-based scooter startup Gokada, after embezzling $400,000 from him and facing potential criminal charges.
Haspil’s defense attorneys argue that he committed the murder due to “extreme emotional disturbance,” as he sought to maintain a lavish lifestyle for his French exchange student girlfriend, Marine Chaveuz, by showering her with expensive gifts. Haspil admits to tasing Saleh in the back and then aiming a knife at his neck during the fatal attack.
Manhattan prosecutors claim that Haspil murdered Saleh after being threatened with criminal charges for embezzlement. They argue that Saleh, who was charismatic and visionary, had hired Haspil as an executive assistant in 2018 after he created a fake resume with fabricated experience, including a job at the fictitious company “Pinina.
Haspil’s motive for the murder allegedly stemmed from his desire to maintain the support of his girlfriend, Marine Chaveuz. He testified that he did not want to “abandon” her and believed that by killing Saleh, he would not have to repay the stolen funds or worry about missing payments.
In an attempt to argue for a reduction in charges, Haspil’s attorneys are attempting to use the defense of “extreme emotional disturbance.” During his testimony, Haspil explained that he had planned a luxurious birthday celebration for Chaveuz on July 19, 2020.
He confirmed that he spent $7,349 on a Louis Vuitton backpack and trunk clutch for his designer-obsessed girlfriend, who even received her own customized Louis Vuitton birthday cake. Haspil admitted to receiving an emailed receipt just six hours after the alleged murder took place on July 13, 2020.
The trial will continue with more testimony from witnesses and further examination of the motives behind this shocking crime.
