In an intense closing argument at his Manhattan murder trial, the defense attorney for Tyrese Haspil argued that the personal assistant’s uncontrollable passion for his girlfriend led him to kill wealthy New York CEO Fahim Saleh in July 2020. Sam Roberts claimed that the defendant suffered “extreme emotional disturbance” due to fear of losing her if she found out he was funding their lavish lifestyle with embezzled funds from Saleh, who was the CEO of motorbike startup Gokada.
Haspil’s attorney told jurors in Manhattan Supreme Court that his client fell in love with Marine Chaveuz, a French foreign exchange student, showering her with expensive gifts and trips. Roberts said Haspil feared she would “abandon” him as others had done in his life, which drove him to take drastic measures to maintain their lifestyle.
The embezzlement-fueled romance tab for Haspil eventually reached $400,000 by May 2020, according to prosecutors who accused him of murdering Saleh because he feared being exposed and losing the lifestyle he had built with the stolen money. Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Linda Ford said Haspil murdered Saleh as he was a “threat” to that lifestyle.
Haspil’s attorneys argued that Chaveuz was set to return to France before the murder, but her stay was extended, which left him thrilled but also needing to continue stealing from Saleh. Haspil testified earlier in the trial that he contemplated suicide but ultimately decided on killing Saleh so he could buy time and give Chaveuz a perfect birthday before she returned to France later that summer.
Prosecutors dismissed this motive, saying Haspil’s greed predates his relationship with Chaveuz. They also pointed out that the first-degree murder charges against Haspil carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years to life if convicted. If successful in presenting an emotional disturbance defense, his charges would be downgraded to manslaughter, which carries just five to 25 years.
Jury deliberations will begin on Monday as the trial continues.
