Trial Nears for TikTok Star Accused of Killing Estranged Wife After Spying on Her and Man Using Daughter's iPad
Ali Abulaban, 31, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder
A former TikTok star is expected to go on trial this month more than two years after a he allegedly fatally shot his estranged wife and a friend he thought she was cheating on him with.
Ali Abulaban, 31, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and other criminal offenses in connection with the October 2021 deaths of his estranged wife Ana Abulaban, 28, and her friend, 29-year-old Cadenas Barron, NBC San Diego reported, citing authorities.
According to NBC San Diego, Ali is expected in San Diego Superior Court at 9 a.m. on April 24. Then jury selection is scheduled for the following week.
According to prosecutors, Ali, who had nearly a million followers on the social media app TikTok, had been living at a hotel and stalking Ana since she told him to move out of their San Diego apartment on Oct. 18, 2021, the outlet reported.
Related: TikTok Star Accused of Killing Estranged Wife After Allegedly Spying on Her with Daughter's iPad
Deputy District Attorney Taren Brast said in court at the time that Ali believed Ana had been cheating on him, according to the Los Angeles Times. Brast alleged Ali snuck back into the apartment while Ana was out and downloaded an app with a listening device on his 5-year-old daughter's iPad that was left in a bedroom.
He’s accused of listening to the app later that day and claimed he heard Ana talking with another man. As a result, he rushed back to the apartment, where he allegedly shot Barron three times and struck Ana in the head.
According to CBS News, authorities said Ali allegedly told his mother and police that he had committed the murders and was subsequently taken into custody.
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Authorities also said it wasn’t the first time Ali had been accused of violence against his wife. According to Brast, Ana filed a police report against Ali about a month prior to her murder after he allegedly pushed and injured her.
According to NBC San Diego, Ali is being represented by the San Diego public defender's office. PEOPLE couldn’t immediately get in touch with an attorney who could speak on Ali’s behalf.
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