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Jury in Elizabeth Holmes trial handed case, begin deliberations

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Elizabeth Holmes, founder of Theranos, arrives in San Jose to assist her fraud trial, which will be held December 17th, 2021.

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SAN JOSE, Calif. — The 12 jurors who will decide the fate of Theranos founder Elizabeth HolmesThey are required to review the evidence of 31 witnesses for three months before they can begin deliberations.

Following Judge Edward Davila’s reading of instructions on Friday, around 4.40 pm PT the case was turned over to the jury. Holmes is facing nine wire fraud charges and two conspiracy to commit wirefraud. If convicted, she could spend up to 20 years prison. She has pleaded not guilty.

Kevin Downey (Hamster’s defense attorney) made the final plea earlier Friday. He claimed that Holmes should be acquitted of all charges.

Downey stated, “At any sign of trouble the crooks cash in, criminals cover-up, and rats flee from a sinking vessel.” She didn’t do that.”

Downey claimed that Holmes, now 37 years old, has dedicated her life building Theranos. She never wanted to cheat investors. Holmes, he reminded jurors, gave up her college education. gave up her youthShe was adamant that her technology would change the world and she lost many friends. 

He stressed Holmes’ wealth in Theranos’ success was hers and that Holmes never sold any of the shares.

Downey explained, “She went with that ship down when it fell.” “Ladies, gentlemen. That is who this lady is.”

Downey spent three hours trying the discredit government. Holmes claimed that Holmes wasn’t deliberately misleading the company’s finances to get money from investors.

Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan Murdoch (R), left the News Corporation Building in New York City on July 21st 2016.

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Theranos has raised $945 Million from prominent investors over the past decade. News Corp was one of them. Rupert MurdochDon Lucas, the family of Betsy DeVos,Former education secretary. Several of these investors were witnesses to the government.

“People lost money. Downey spoke out. “Ms. Holmes clearly did not want people to lose money. This is a terrible event that she did not intend to cause and an utter failure of hers.

Downey explained that investors were intelligent people who understood the risks involved in a venture.

Holmes was seated between her lawyers in the San Jose courtroom Friday. The couple, her parents and Billy Evans were beside her.

The other option

Following the closing argument of defense, prosecution presented its response and put Holmes back in the spotlight.

Assistant U.S. attorney John Bostic stated that “The disease which plagued Theranos was not a lack in effort. It was an absence of honesty.” “It was not at ground level. It was at the top.”

Bostic stated that Theranos should not be mistaken for a failed company despite all of their hard work.

Bostic declared, “We appreciate people who set ambitious targets and aim to achieve them.” This case was a disaster for Holmes and Theranos when Holmes chose the alternative. She refused to take responsibility and decided to break the law.

Holmes will be found guilty if the jury unanimously finds beyond reasonable doubt that Holmes is guilty. Holmes was once heralded as the “entrepreneur of the century”. youngest self-made female billionaireThis is a scheme to defraud patients and investors.

Danny CevallosAn NBC News legal analyst said that the jury will have a lot of evidence due to the sheer number of witnesses and abundance of documents.

Cevallos stated that the jury can go through many pieces of evidence, including so many communication and evidence. On the other side, when they return to the jury room, the doors close, the jurors may glance at one another and state, “None of us believes a word she has said.”

The defense’s final argument did not mention Ramesh Balwani (Hills’ ex-boyfriend and former business partner). Holmes’ testimony was centred on Balwani. Balwani had abused her emotionally and physically, which she admitted to the jury. She claimed that he had control of her and that he was responsible for the finances and Theranos laboratory.

Balwani is facing the same charges that Holmes. He will be tried in court early next year. He also pleaded no guilty.

Downey wasn’t allowed to mention Balwani on Friday.

Cevallos stated that it could cause her pain. “I believe jurors will gather in the juryroom and ask one another, “Why didn’t you mention Balwani trauma in closing?”

Bostic chose to return to the subject in his rebuttal. The jury was told by Bostic that the abuse testimony could be difficult to understand, but it did not affect their decision.

Bostic declared, “In the lack of any evidence linking those experiences to the charged conduct,” Ms. Holmes didn’t need Mr Balwani’s encouragement to deceive.

WATCH: Closing arguments in the Elizabeth Holmes trial

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