Murder trial of Chinese-born heiress Tiffany Li hits major snag after key witness jailed
- Li and her boyfriend Kaveh Bayat are charged with killing Keith Green, the father of Li’s children
- Real estate heiress, whose family made millions from Chinese construction projects, has been free on US$35 million bail
The prosecution in the murder trial of a wealthy San Francisco Bay Area real estate scion has hit a major snag: a key witness has been arrested on suspicion that he tried to contact a witness for the defence.
Prosecutors now may not allow Olivier Adella to testify at the trial of Tiffany Li and her boyfriend Kaveh Bayat, the Mercury News in San Jose reported Friday.
The couple is charged with murder in the 2016 killing of Keith Green, the father of Li’s children. Adella was arrested on Thursday, the day the trial was expected to begin. Opening statements are now set for Tuesday.
Li has been free on bail since 2017 after her family, which made millions from Chinese construction projects, posted an astonishing US$35 million bail that has allowed her to stay in her Hillsborough mansion pending trial. Bayat was never able to post his bail and remains in custody.
Green’s body was found along a dirt road in Sonoma County nearly two weeks after he had been last seen meeting Li to discuss custody of their children. Prosecutors say she feared losing custody to him.