SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Former TikTok star Ali Abulaban, who went by the name Jinnkid on social media platforms, is expected to testify in his own double murder trial.
Abulaban is accused of shooting and killing his wife, 28-year-old Ana Abulaban, and her friend, 29-year-old Rayburn Barron, inside a high-rise San Diego luxury apartment on Oct. 21, 2021.
Before the trial began this week, the judge and attorneys held pre-trial motions Monday morning to go over some of the finishing touches, including confirmation that Ali Abulaban plans to testify in his own defense, something not commonly seen.
“I’m getting the very big vibe that he’s getting on the stand,” Judge Jeffrey Fraser said in court Monday.
“I mean, it’s not a surprise,” Ali Abulaban’s attorney responded.
“I mean, my opinion is that you couldn’t keep him off the stand,” the judge added. “He’s the only one who can tell us what his mental state was on that particular day, and I anticipate he’s going to do that.”
On Oct. 21, 2021, police were called to the 31st floor apartment where Ana and Ali Abulaban had lived together with their 5-year-old daughter, prior to Ana reportedly kicking Ali out of the house amid a rocky marriage.
Ali Abulaban is accused of bugging his daughter’s iPad, installing a listening device and listening to what was happening in the apartment. When he allegedly heard a man’s voice and R&B music, he left the hotel he was staying in and went back to the apartment, where his wife and Barron were found dead.
Prosecutors had claimed he confessed to police and his mother that he killed them, but has since denied that.
Nexstar’s KSWB/KUSI spoke with Ali Abulaban in an exclusive jailhouse interview in December 2021, just a little more than a month after the shooting.
About a month later, in January 2022, Ali Abulaban had an uncontrollable outburst in court as detectives were testifying against him.
Fast forward to this week, just days before the trial is set to begin, and Ali Abulaban was in court, handcuffed but calm, as attorneys and the judge went over pre-trial motions and evidence that will be presented to the jury.
Ali Abulaban is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, allegations of using a handgun in the killings, and a special-circumstance allegation of committing multiple murders.
In court Monday, his attorney briefly discussed a meeting where it was decided prosecutors will not be pursuing the death penalty in this case. He remains in custody without bail.
Jury selection began Tuesday and opening statements are expected to take place Wednesday.