– Manhattan jury hears 911 call of woman finding dismembered body of Gokada CEO Fahim Saleh
– Prosecutor alleges Saleh was murdered and dismembered by his former personal assistant Tyrese Haspil
– Defense claims Haspil suffered from an extreme emotional disturbance leading to the crime, seeks manslaughter charge
A Manhattan jury heard a harrowing 911 call from a woman who found the dismembered body of her cousin, Fahim Saleh, the Gokada ride-share CEO. Saleh was a successful entrepreneur who was murdered and sawed into pieces in July 2020 by Tyrese Haspil, his former personal assistant. The defense admits that Haspil stole from and killed his ex-boss but argues that he suffered from an extreme emotional disturbance due to traumatic childhood events and the fear of losing his girlfriend.
Security footage showed Haspil shocking Saleh with a Taser before stabbing him multiple times. Haspil purchased the Taser a month before the murder and spent three days dismembering Saleh. If the jury believes his defense of extreme emotional disturbance, Haspil could face manslaughter charges instead of murder, leading to a minimum of five years in prison.
The 911 call revealed the distress of Saleh’s cousin upon discovering his dismembered body. She explained to the operator that Saleh’s head, arms, and legs were missing and that she found an electric saw next to his body. The operator struggled to understand the situation, prompting the cousin to express concern that Saleh’s body might be taken.
The defense of extreme emotional disturbance is typically used for sudden acts of violence, like in the case of Gigi Jordan, who was found guilty of manslaughter for poisoning her son. The prosecution will continue to present its case against Haspil in the upcoming week.