Former TikToker Ali Abulaban, known for his Scarface impressions, has received his sentence after being convicted in May of the murders of his wife and her friend in San Diego in 2021.
On May 30, Ali Abulaban, 32, also recognized as ‘JinnKid’ on social media, was found guilty of fatally shooting his wife, Ana Abulaban, 28, and her friend, 29-year-old Rayburn Cadenas Barron, on October 21, 2021, in San Diego.
Throughout the trial, Abulaban did not deny killing his estranged wife and Barron, who were together on a sofa in her apartment when they were attacked.
A few months later, on September 6, Abulaban was sentenced to two consecutive 25 years to life sentences for the murders, as reported by NBC San Diego.
Judge Jeffrey Fraser stated that Abulaban committed a “cold-blooded killing without remorse,” emphasizing that his actions were “chilling and very selfish.”
Abulaban reacted negatively to the judge’s sentence
“The bottom line here is he will die in prison,” Fraser declared. “He will never be a free man. He will take his last breath there.”
The courtroom became tense when Abulaban engaged in a shouting match with Ana’s devastated sister during her victim impact statement.
“Ali, if I had known what my sister had been through with all that abuse, if I had known!” she shouted, “I would have flown again to see her and to take her and Amira from you.”
Amira is the couple’s daughter, who was just five years old when Abulaban committed the murders.
“You promised my mom that you would take good care of them like my parents did for Ana Marie and Amira back in the Philippines,” she continued. “But I had no idea that my sister’s life would be miserable living with you. You treated my sister like she didn’t matter, but she mattered.”
Abulaban retaliated verbally while his defense attorney attempted to calm him down.
Barron’s family also addressed the court, expressing their sorrow and describing him as a caring family man who was always willing to help others.
During his statement, Abulaban expressed remorse for his actions and attempted to explain that he was in a “drug-induced psychosis” when he entered Ana’s high-rise building on the night of the murders.
“My response in that moment was an unintended impulsive reaction against my better judgment to the discovery of Ray’s romantic involvement with my wife,” he explained. “Being sent to prison forever feels like I’m being sent to hell, and I don’t think that’s fair.”
The judge did not accept his “heat of passion” defense, even noting Abulaban’s acting talents showcased in his Scarface videos.
“He is a very talented actor. When I saw the Scarface videos, it’s as if when you committed these crimes, you became that persona of Scarface,” the judge remarked. “Any tears he’s cried in this courtroom have been for himself.”
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