Hillsborough real estate heiress acquitted of murder

FILE - This May 23, 2016 file photo shows the front gate of the mansion where Tiffany Li lived in Hillsborough, Calif. Li was arrested at the home on suspicion of killing Keith Green, the father of her two children. less FILE - This May 23, 2016 file photo shows the front gate of the mansion where Tiffany Li lived in Hillsborough, Calif. Li was arrested at the home on suspicion of killing Keith Green, the father of her two ... more Photo: Aaron Kinney, MBR Photo: Aaron Kinney, MBR Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Hillsborough real estate heiress acquitted of murder 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

After deliberating for 12 days, jurors acquitted a Hillsborough real estate heiress accused of murdering the father of her children in 2016.

Tiffany Li had been charged with conspiring with her boyfriend Kaveh Bayat to kill 27-year-old Keith Green over a custody dispute.

The case drew national attention when Li's family, known for their successful real estate construction business in China, posted $35 million in bail for her. Prosecutors had set the bail high because they determined that Li was a flight risk. Li is a naturalized U.S. citizen but was born in China. At the time, San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe told a judge her family's wealth was estimated to be in the "$100 million to $150 million range."

Green's body was found along a dirt road in Greenbrae nearly two weeks after he was last seen meeting with Li to discuss custody of their children.

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San Mateo County prosecutors said Li lured Green to her mansion in Hillsborough, south of San Francisco. They say Bayat shot Green in the mouth and the two hired a friend, Olivier Adella, to dispose of the body. Prosecutors presented evidence that Green’s blood was found in Li’s Mercedes and gunshot residue was discovered in her garage.

Li’s attorneys argued that Green was killed in a botched kidnapping plot and that she had nothing to do with his death. She had settled the custody issues with her former boyfriend, they said.

Jurors cleared Bayat of gun charges Friday but were deadlocked on his role in the murder.

A mistrial has now been declared in Bayat’s case.

Charges are pending against Adella, who is accused of dumping the body. He was originally offered a plea agreement in exchange for his testimony in the murder trial, but it was revoked after it was discovered that he had contacted a witness for the defense.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Tessa McLean is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her at tessa.mclean@sfgate.com or follow her on Twitter @mcleantessa.