The trial of the former CEO of the defunct crypto exchange FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), is fast approaching the verdict stage as the prosecution closed its case last week. Following this, Bankman-Fried and his lawyers are set to open their defense (or maybe not) this week in what could prove very pivotal as to the direction of the case and SBF’s fate.
What Will Sam Bankman-Fried’s Lawyers Do?
Specifically, SBF’s trial will continue on October 26, when he and his lawyers will need to inform the court on what step they intend to take next. As to the next steps they can take, they can either choose to open a defense and present witnesses and evidence to the jury. They can also choose to waive the case and not put up any defense.
They will most likely have to put up a defense, considering that the prosecution (after 3 weeks of calling almost twenty witnesses) can arguably be said to have discharged the burden of proving SBF’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt. As such, it will be a huge gamble for the defense to simply waive the case and ask the jury to give a verdict solely on the evidence adduced by the prosecution.
Assuming they decide to open a defense, there is no doubt that they will constrained in the witnesses and evidence they can put forward. Regarding witnesses, the defense is already handicapped as Judge Kaplan already…
