The lawyer representing Sam Bankman-Fried, the previous CEO of the now-defunct crypto change FTX, has claimed that the proposed jury questions for the upcoming fraud trial will elicit biased responses.
In a courtroom filing on Sept. 29, lawyer Mark Cohen, who’s representing Bankman-Fried, contends that the jury questions introduced by the United States authorities comprise prejudice that might end in an unfair trial for Bankman-Fried.
“The Government’s proposed voir dire discourages full disclosure from potential jurors, fails to elicit sufficient information to allow the defense to ascertain potential juror bias, and risks tainting the jury by presenting the allegations in a prejudicial manner.”
He additionally argues that the language used within the jury choice questions already portrays a biased picture, presuming Bankman-Fried’s guilt in fraud and cash laundering.
“In particular, by referring to “his fraud,” reasonably than “his alleged fraud” or just “fraud,” the ultimate sentence in paragraph 3 improperly means that fraud by Mr. Bankman-Fried is a longtime truth.”
Cohen stresses the significance of the courtroom reminding potential jurors that Bankman-Fried is entitled to the presumption of innocence till confirmed responsible past an inexpensive doubt.
Furthermore, Cohen argued that the courtroom ought to use the voir dire proposed by Bankman-Fried.
However, Cointelegraph just lately reported that the U.S. authorities opposed Bankman-Fried’s proposed questions, declaring them pointless and time-consuming.
Specifically, the U.S. authorities objected to his questions regarding pretrial publicity, the efficient altruism philosophical motion, political donations and lobbying and attention-deficit/hyperactivity dysfunction (ADHD).
Related: FTX founder’s plea for temporary release should be denied, prosecution says
Jury choice will start on Oct. 3, preceding the trial’s begin on Oct. 4.
According to a recently released trial calendar, there will be 15 full trial days in October and another six in November.
Meanwhile, Bankman-Fried has been in detention at the Metropolitan Detention Center since August 11. U.S. Judge Lewis Kaplan has consistently refused his numerous requests for temporary release to prepare for the trial.
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