Additional Coverage:
- Personal assistant convicted of dismembering his boss is sentenced to 40 years to life (newsbreak.com)
**NEW YORK (AP) —** A personal assistant who was found guilty of killing and dismembering his former tech entrepreneur boss after embezzling around $400,000 from him received a prison sentence of 40 years to life on Tuesday, according to Manhattan’s district attorney.
Tyrese Haspil, aged 25, was convicted in June for the 2020 murder of his former employer, Fahim Saleh, along with charges of grand larceny and other crimes.
Prosecutors revealed that Haspil had been employed by Saleh, who launched ventures such as a motorcycle ride-hailing service in Nigeria, but soon began illicitly taking funds from Saleh’s businesses. Haspil resigned a year later but continued the thefts, even after Saleh found out and allowed Haspil to repay the stolen money over two years to avoid legal action.
Authorities stated that Haspil decided to kill Saleh out of fear that Saleh would discover the ongoing embezzlement.
On July 13, 2020, Haspil, dressed in a black suit and mask, followed Saleh into the elevator of his upscale Manhattan apartment building and tased him in the back when the elevator doors opened into Saleh’s residence. Saleh collapsed, and Haspil then fatally stabbed him.
The following day, Haspil returned to the apartment to dismember the body using an electric saw but had to leave to buy a charger when the saw’s battery ran out. During Haspil’s absence, Saleh’s cousin discovered the dismembered body.
Police apprehended Haspil a few days later.
“Today, Tyrese Haspil is held accountable for the brutal murder and decapitation of Fahim Saleh, a benevolent and compassionate individual who made a significant impact on the world,” said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in a statement. “Despite having funds stolen by the defendant to support a luxurious lifestyle, Mr.
Saleh still gave him a second chance. Although today’s sentence won’t bring Mr.
Saleh back, I hope it offers his family some comfort as they grieve his tragic loss.”