Former TikTok personality Ali Abulaban Sentenced to Life for Double Murder.

Former TikTok personality Ali Abulaban, 32, also known as "JinnKid," has been sentenced to life in prison for the double murder of his estranged wife Ana Abulaban, 28, and her friend Rayburn Cardenas Barron, 29. The murders took place in October 2021 at the Spire San Diego luxury apartment complex, where Abulaban confessed to killing the two victims.

A San Diego Superior Court judge sentenced Abulaban to two consecutive 25 years to life terms for the murders. The court proceedings concluded with the judge expressing doubts about Abulaban's remorse.

"He’s a very selfish person, as I think the jury saw," said Judge Jeffrey Fraser. "He will die in prison and never be a free man. He will take his last breath there."

Emotional Victim Impact Statements

Before the sentencing, six loved ones of the victims, including Ana Abulaban’s sister, provided impact statements. Ana's sister, visibly distressed, yelled at Abulaban, expressing her pain over the abuse Ana had endured.

Ali Abulaban, aka 'JinnKid,' sentenced to two consecutive 25-year to life terms for the murders of Ana Abulaban and Rayburn Cardenas Barron at Spire San Diego.

"Ali, if I had known what my sister had been through with all that abuse... I would have flown to see her and take her and Amira from you,” she shouted. “You treated my sister like she didn’t matter, but she mattered.”

Rayburn Barron’s family also spoke out, describing their brother as a caring man. His sister, Lizbeth Barron, said, "We are often told that we are such a strong family for surviving this tragedy, but the reality is, this has been the most difficult thing we have ever experienced. Many of us are left broken."

Abulaban's Statement and Defense

Abulaban addressed the court, reading from notes as he apologized for his actions, but continued to claim his crimes were committed during a "drug-induced psychosis."

“The fact that I spent more time on the stand than the jury took to deliberate my fate is very concerning,” he said, asking for a chance to rehabilitate.

Judge Fraser dismissed Abulaban’s statement, calling him "a very talented actor" and adding, “When I saw the Scarface videos, it's as if he became that persona—cold-blooded, without remorse.”

Defense's Request for a Mistrial Denied

The defense had attempted to have the trial declared a mistrial, claiming that a line of questioning by the prosecution had unfairly influenced the jury. However, Judge Fraser ruled that the two questioned moments did not taint the jury’s opinion.

“The defendant was on the stand for 3 days... the jury had an extraordinary amount of time to evaluate the defendant’s credibility,” said Fraser.

The Trial and Verdict

On May 29, Abulaban was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder, with the jury also finding the special-circumstance allegations of committing multiple murders to be true. Jurors deliberated for several days before reaching their verdict.

In closing arguments, Deputy District Attorney Taren Brast presented evidence showing that Abulaban had stalked his wife and planned the murders. She described how he brought a gun to confront Ana and Barron, saying, “Heat of passion does not apply when you bring a gun and plan the killing.”

Brast also highlighted Ana’s fear of Abulaban and her desire to leave the abusive marriage, emphasizing that his actions were premeditated, not a crime of passion.

Abulaban's Defense

Abulaban’s defense attorney, Jodi Green, argued that his client was not a murderer, citing his difficult childhood, mental health issues, and cocaine use. She claimed that the murders were not intentional and instead a result of manipulation by Ana.

She also pointed out that the fact Abulaban re-racked his gun between shots indicated he was out of his mind, further claiming that the cocaine in his system eight hours later proved he was not in a rational state when the killings occurred.

A Life Sentence and Final Justice

After the verdict, Jordana Barron, Rayburn Barron’s sister, expressed relief that some justice had been served. “Obviously nothing is going to bring our brother or Ana back, but at least he is never going to be able to do this to another person again,” she said.

Abulaban’s life sentence marks the conclusion of a tragic case that rocked the San Diego community. Though nothing can reverse the pain caused, the families of the victims can find some comfort in knowing that Abulaban will never be free again.

Ali Abulaban's actions and subsequent conviction highlight the devastating consequences of domestic violence and the dangers of toxic relationships. The families of Ana Abulaban and Rayburn Barron are left to pick up the pieces, while Abulaban faces the rest of his life in prison for his heinous crimes.

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