SAN DIEGO — The former TikTok personality Ali Abulaban was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of his wife 28-year-old Ana Abulaban and her friend 29-year-old Rayburn Barron.
Friday morning's sentencing hearing was dramatic.
Abulban's defense attorney asked the judge for a new trial, accusing Deputy District Attorney Taren Brast of prosecutorial misconduct. Her argument centered on a line of questioning that happened during the trial while Abulaban was on the witness stand. She told the judge it painted her client as a liar. However, the judge disagreed. He said Abulaban was on the stand for three days straight, and the jury got a full picture of him.
Abulaban's attorneys requested time to hire a prison expert to prepare him for prison.
Watch: 'He will die in prison' | Ali Abulaban sentenced to 50 years to life for murder of wife and friend
During witness impact statements there were fireworks between Ana Abulaban's sister and Abulaban. She was crying and screaming at Abulaban.
"What did she do to you? She didn't do anything to you," she sobbed.
"You know Ana Marie is not going to go cheat if you didn't cheat first!" she yelled.
The judge ordered her to calm down.
There were four bailiffs standing in between Abulaban and the courtroom gallery.
Abulaban later apologized to Ray Barron's family. He also apologized to his wife's family.
"There really isn't much a person can say to make things better," he said.
The killings happened in October 2021.
The jury reached a verdict on May 29 after a nearly month-long trial. After a little more than one day of deliberations, Abulaban was convicted by a jury of two counts of first-degree murder for the killings in Downtown San Diego.
The trial
Throughout the month-long trial, jurors considered a mountain of evidence including, disturbing crime scene photos, videos and recordings taken during the Abulaban's marriage, and testimony from friends and family of Ana and Barron.
Abulaban ultimately took the stand in his defense. During his heated testimony, Abulaban gave his account of the events that led up to him shooting Ana and Barron to death inside Spire luxury apartments.
While the prosecution has presented evidence of a tumultuous relationship between Abulaban and Ana, Abulaban's defense has maintained he was a heavy cocaine user whose mental state was impacted by the breakdown of his marriage.
WATCH: Full verdict | Jury reaches verdict in Ali Abulaban double murder trial