San Diego, Calif. – A former social media personality known as “JinnKid” faced court on Friday, but his sentencing for the murder of his estrangled wife and her friend has been delayed. The sentencing was set to conclude the high-profile case dating back to October 2021, when gunfire erupted inside a luxury high-rise apartment in East Village.
During the latest court session, the appearance of Ali Abulaban, 32, had notably changed, presenting himself with a buzz cut and attired in jail-standard shirt and pants. His legal team requested the delay in sentencing, arguing for additional time to prepare, while the prosecutor pushed for an immediate resolution, highlighting the victims’ families’ need for closure.
The judge presiding over the case, Jeffrey Fraser of the San Diego Superior Court, granted the continuation, setting the new sentencing date for September 6. This decision, he noted, was in line with typical judicial leniency towards first-time requests for postponement.
The tragic saga commenced when Abulaban admittedly shot his 28-year-old wife, Ana Abulaban, and her 29-year-old friend Rayburn Cardenas Barron at the Spire San Diego, where the couple had previously lived. Although Abulaban conceded to the killings during the trial, the jury was left to determine the degree of murder – first or second degree – after deliberating the intent and premeditation involved.
The proceedings, which began deliberations on May 24, culminated five days later with Abulaban being found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder, along with special allegations of using a firearm and committing multiple murders. The case starkly highlighted issues beyond the immediate legal charges, touching on elements of domestic violence and psychological trauma.
Deputy District Attorney Taren Brast argued forcefully in court, underscoring the premeditated nature of the crime. She detailed how Abulaban engaged in surveillance of his estranged wife before the killings and entered the apartment intentionally armed to confront her and Barron. The prosecution described a chilling scenario of calculated violence far removed from a spontaneous act of passion.
“The timeline and evidence speak loudly to the fact that this was a calculated act, driven by control and intention to end two lives,” Brast emphasized during her closing argument.
In contrast, defense attorney Jodi Green painted a picture of a man troubled by his past and under the influence of narcotics at the time of the shootings, arguing that these factors should influence the jury’s perception of his mental state and intent.
Despite the defense’s efforts to frame the incident as a result of psychological and substance abuse issues, the jury’s verdict sided with the prosecution’s portrayal of a deliberate double homicide.
Following the verdict, Barron’s sister expressed a bittersweet sense of justice to reporters, stating, “Nothing can bring back our loved ones, but the assurance that he can no longer harm anyone else is a small consolation in our continuing grief.”
This tragic case has left the community and the families involved grappling with the consequences of violent actions that have irrevocably altered many lives, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding domestic violence and mental health within the justice system. The final sentencing, now scheduled for September, is anticipated to bring a definitive close to this distressing chapter.