As Sam Bankman-Fried’s trial approaches its ultimate innings, the query of how he’ll mount his protection hangs over the proceedings.
On Thursday, prosecutors will end their case in opposition to Bankman-Fried — which incorporates seven costs associated to fraud and cash laundering — and the defendant’s workforce might be given the chance to make a case.
Throughout a teleconference on Wednesday, Mark Cohen, Bankman-Fried’s lead lawyer, stated that the protection has three potential witnesses. He additionally stated, “Our consumer might be testifying.”
Cohen stated he expects Bankman-Fried’s testimony to be the identical size as that of his former colleagues, who pleaded responsible: FTX co-founder and CTO Gary Wang, Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison, and FTX head of engineering Nishad Singh. He additionally stated that it’ll take a “good a part of Thursday, perhaps all of Thursday,” with potential for Friday cross-examination.
Assistant U.S. attorneys Nicolas Roos stated if the defendant testifies, which Cohen indicated he’s, and relying on what Bankman-Fried says, a Monday closing for the trial “could now not be life like.”
“We’re within the final innings, and, to modify metaphors, that is his Hail Mary,” stated Josh Naftalis, a former federal prosecutor who’s now a accomplice at Pallas Companions. He predicted earlier this week on TechCrunch’s Chain Reaction podcast that Bankman-Fried would testify.
Whereas he was working within the Southern District of New York, Naftalis secured convictions in each federal legal trial that he led as an assistant U.S. lawyer. Based mostly on that have, Naftalis stated that Bankman-Fried is up in opposition to robust proof, three cooperating witnesses and particulars of how billions of {dollars} flowed via firms he managed. “That is his alternative to say, ‘I didn’t intend to do something mistaken. I didn’t act in dangerous religion. I used to be performing in good religion, issues simply received uncontrolled,’ and it’s actually arduous for any defendant to elucidate to a jury what’s in his head until they take a stand,” Naftalis stated.
