Tyrese Haspil, the man convicted of murdering and decapitating his former boss, tech CEO Fahim Saleh, faced a Manhattan judge recently, where he expressed his belief that he deserved life behind bars. Haspil, who stole nearly $400,000 from Saleh to impress his French girlfriend, Marine Chaveuz, was sentenced to 40 years to life for the horrific 2020 crime.
In a dramatic twist during his court appearance, Haspil diverged from his lawyer’s arguments, surprising everyone by stating he felt only a life sentence without parole was fitting. His statement came after his attorney had spent nearly an hour pleading for a lesser sentence.
The crime, which occurred on July 13, 2020, in Saleh’s luxury East Houston Street apartment, shocked the community. Saleh’s sister, Rif Saleh, delivered a powerful victim impact statement, condemning Haspil as a manipulative con man and murderer. She called for him to remain behind bars for the rest of his life.
Saleh’s father, Ahmed Saleh, was equally vocal, describing the defense’s arguments as “sickening” and insisting that Haspil’s actions had irreparably harmed his family.
Haspil, 25, was employed by Saleh as an executive assistant and had access to his finances. The embezzled funds were reportedly used to sustain Haspil’s girlfriend’s extravagant lifestyle. After being caught, Saleh had decided to allow Haspil to repay the stolen money rather than report him to the authorities—a decision that ultimately cost him his life.
The murder unfolded in the building’s elevator, where Haspil used a Taser on Saleh before attacking him with a knife. He then used a saw, purchased with Saleh’s credit card, to dismember the body, as captured by surveillance footage.
In court, Haspil admitted to falsifying his resume to secure the job with Saleh and acknowledged his previous criminal activities. Despite his young age at the time of the crime, his defense argued that the sentence should take into account his developmental stage. However, prosecutors demanded a 50-year to life sentence and restitution for the stolen money.
This case highlights the tragic end of a mentor-protege relationship turned deadly, with Haspil’s shocking actions leaving a profound impact on Saleh’s family and the community.
