‘Hillsborough Heiress’ acquitted in shooting death
The “Hillsborough Heiress” accused of orchestrating the 2016 execution of the father of her two children was found not guilty Friday.
A San Mateo County jury read the verdict shortly after 11 a.m., acquitting real estate heiress Tiffany Li in the death of her exboyfriend, Keith Green, who was shot to death and left in a field off Highway 101 near Healdsburg.
Li, 34, was accused of having her thenboyfriend kill Green because she feared she would lose custody of her children. The jury deliberated for 12 days before clearing her of firstdegree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
The jury deadlocked later Friday, however, in the matter of Li’s codefendant Kaveh Bayat, 33, and Superior Court Judge Robert Foiles declared a mistrial in his case. Bayat was accused of helping Li set the trap before putting a gun in Green’s mouth and pulling the trigger on April 28, 2016.
Li’s case drew international attention after her family, which made a fortune in real estate construction in China, posted $35 million bail — a record for San Mateo County.
Green’s body was found off the side of a dirt road in Sonoma County two weeks after he had disappeared and been considered a missing person. An autopsy showed that he was killed.
“We are disappointed with the verdicts, since obviously we believe the evidence supported holding Ms. Li accountable for the crimes,” said District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe. “But we respect the jury system and the effort to analyze this case by these 12 jurors.”
Prosecutors said Li lured Green to a meeting at the Millbrae Pancake House as she grew angry with his requests for money during a contentious custody dispute and feared losing custody, prosecutors alleged. Green never returned home.
They said Li and Bayat conspired to kill Green, and presented extensive phone records and a golf club that had gunfire residue on it.
Li’s lawyer, May Mar, argued that the actual killer was a man who was not even on trial. Mar said Olivier Adella, who prosecutors said they believe disposed of Green’s body, is responsible for Green’s death with other individuals in a possible botched kidnapping plan.
Mar said authorities wrongly focused on Li and Bayat, overlooking evidence in their investigation.
Adella, a Burlingame resident who was friends with Li and Bayat at the time of the killing, was expected to testify in the trial until September, when prosecutors announced they had dropped his plea agreement because he allegedly violated the terms by contacting a defense witness.
“We verdicts, are disappointed since obviously with we the believe the evidence supported holding Ms. Li accountable for the crimes.” Steve Wagstaffe, San Mateo County district attorney