Tyrese Haspil, the personal assistant to a tech CEO, is currently standing trial for the brutal murder of his boss, Fahim Saleh. According to The New York Post, Haspil’s defense argues that he committed the crime in a “crime of passion” scenario following his embezzlement of hundreds of thousands of dollars from Saleh.

Reportedly, Saleh had uncovered the theft but chose not to pursue legal action, allowing Haspil an opportunity to repay the stolen funds. However, Haspil is alleged to have continued his embezzlement activities, prompting renewed threats of legal consequences.

Prosecutors, as per The Post, assert that Haspil meticulously planned the murder, utilizing a taser and subsequently dismembering the victim’s body. Evidence presented includes a cleaning product tag linked to a taser purchased by Haspil, which was discovered at the crime scene.

Despite claiming emotional distress and a difficult childhood as mitigating factors, prosecutors argue that Haspil used the stolen funds to lavish gifts upon a new girlfriend shortly after the murder.

If found guilty of first-degree murder, Haspil faces life imprisonment. His defense is hopeful for a manslaughter conviction with a lesser sentence, citing his alleged emotional turmoil.

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During court proceedings, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Linda Ford stated, ‘Over this period of time, he was planning not only to commit the homicide but to get away with it… To cover it up and how to erase his debt and prevent Fahim Saleh from testifying in criminal proceedings.’

Sources cited by The Post allege that Haspil used Saleh’s credit cards for transportation to and from a Home Depot store to procure supplies for cleaning up the murder scene. Prosecutors provided the jury with a detailed account of Saleh’s alleged killing, stating that Haspil, disguised with a mask, incapacitated Saleh with a taser before stabbing him and later dismembering his body, including decapitation.

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Despite his efforts to clean the crime scene, Haspil left behind crucial evidence, notably a single ‘anti-felon disc’ identification tag. This tag bore a unique number matching the Taser reportedly ordered by Haspil to his Brooklyn address one month before the murder, according to prosecutors.