The future of Sam Bankman-Fried‘s defense in his ongoing trial, might become a cornerstone in the legal landscape of the cryptocurrency realm. The current strategy of focusing on details might pave the way for a later appeal, suggests Daniel C. Silva, previous assistant U.S. attorney, if the former crypto headliner is found guilty. The angle here lies in presenting the argument that the rapidity of proceedings culminated in an inadequate time to prepare a worthy defense, opening debate on the trial’s equity.
It seems like Judge Lewis Kaplan found issue with the defense team’s method of utilizing court time, using cross-examinations to reconfirm the testimony details of the prosecution’s witnesses. With the trial of Bankman-Fried being slated for six weeks, Kaplan has voiced concerns about its efficiency and the subsequent impact on the jury’s attention span.
Legal mavens point out that the defense team should wisely use their cross-examination time. The team’s repetitious questioning, especially during the cross-examination of former CTO and co-founder of FTX, Gary Wang, was interrupted multiple times by Judge Kaplan. Silva suggests that if the jury finds the current cross-examination strategy not generating valuable points, Kaplan might have to step in.
The prosecutors, observing the slower progression of the case than expected, have shuffled their witness lineup. Notably, Caroline Ellison, a previous acquaintance of Bankman-Fried and also pleaded guilty to crimes tied with FTX and Alameda, will be called upon after Wang. This decision is aimed to streamline the case and tap into the jurors’ fresh memory of statements, say legal authorities.
Last week, Wang confessed in court of committing wire fraud alongside the former FTX bigwig. The revelation of engaging in financial scams and dishonest practices that resulted in the cryptocurrency trading platform’s collapse sent shockwaves throughout the crypto community. As FTX’s chief technical officer and co-owner of cryptocurrency hedge fund Alameda Research, founded by Wang and Bankman-Fried in 2017, Wang admitted to severe financial frauds. He revealed to the court that they illegally drew an alarming $8 billion from FTX funds through Alameda Research, claiming that Bankman-Fried directed these illicit actions.
The development of this case may have profound implications for cryptocurrency regulations and the legal handling of blockchain-based businesses in the future. The outcome remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure, all eyes in the crypto world will be on this trial.
Source: Cryptonews
