Courtroom cheers as TikTok star who murdered his estranged wife and her friend learns he will 'die in prison'

A California courtroom erupted with cheers as a TikTok star found guilty of murdering his estranged wife and her friend was sentenced to decades in prison.

32-year-old Ali Abulaban became known on TikTok under the name “JinnKid” through his imitations of famous characters such as Scarface.

He had gained nearly a million followers on the platform before he was found guilty of murder earlier this year after his estranged wife Ana Abulaban, 28, and her boyfriend Rayburn Cardenas Barron, 29, were killed in October 2021.

Although Ana and Abulaban were already estranged, the TikToker installed a listening device on his five-year-old daughter's iPad and heard another man's voice in their San Diego home.

Ana and Barron were in the apartment when Abulaban burst in and shot Barron three times. He then turned the gun on his wife.

During the trial, Abulaban made a confession on the witness stand, claiming he “just freaked out.”

“I had my gun in my hand and the next moment I shot,” he said.

Ali Abulaban had nearly a million followers on TikTok (CBS 8 San Diego)

Abulaban was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced this month by Judge Jeffrey Fraser of San Diego Superior Court.

During the sentencing hearing, the victims' families had the opportunity to express their views before the judge announced his decision.

Ana's sister told Abulaban, “You promised my mother that you would take good care of her, just like my parents did for Ana Marie and Amira in the Philippines.

“But I had no idea that my sister's life with you would be miserable. You treated my sister like she wasn't important, but she was important.”

Barron's sister Lizbeth added that his family is having “difficulty leading a normal and healthy life” after the loss.

The judge described Abulaban as a “talented actor” (CBS 8 San Diego)

In his own statement, Abulaban apologized for the suffering caused to the families, but claimed the killings were the result of “drug-induced psychosis.”

Judge Fraser said he had “serious concerns” that Abulaban regretted his actions and described him as a “very selfish person”.

He sentenced him to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole and to an additional 50 years in prison for the charge of weapons refinement.

Fraser said: “The bottom line is that he will die in prison and will never be a free man. He will breathe his last there.”

When the judge announced the verdict, the courtroom erupted with cheers and applause from relieved family members and other spectators.

Meanwhile, Abulaban taunted the crowd by joining in the applause and also uttering a curse word.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, know that you are not alone. You can speak confidentially 24 hours a day to the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) 24/7. You will find a list of local resources can be found here.