The request centers on what Momeni's attorneys describe as problems with the original proceedings. A jury convicted Momeni of second-degree murder in the case, which drew national attention to San Francisco's tech community and to questions about public safety in the city.

Prosecutors alleged that Momeni stabbed Lee with a knife near the foot of the Bay Bridge. The killing shocked Silicon Valley and beyond, casting a spotlight on the relationships and tensions within the region's startup world.

The new trial bid comes after a judge rejected an earlier effort by the defense to overturn the conviction under California's Racial Justice Act, a law that allows defendants to challenge convictions or sentences on the grounds that racial bias played a role in the case.

Momeni has not yet been sentenced. Post-trial motions filed by his defense team have delayed the sentencing, leaving the case in legal limbo as the court weighs the request for a fresh trial.

The proceedings have been closely watched in San Francisco, where Lee's death became a touchstone in debates over crime and safety. For Lee's family and friends, the legal maneuvering has prolonged a painful chapter that began with his killing.

The court has not yet indicated when it will rule on the new trial motion. If granted, the decision would reopen a high-profile prosecution that ended with Momeni's conviction; if denied, the case would move toward sentencing.