On Thursday evening, the U.S. Department of Justice and Bankman-Fried’s defense team submitted their proposed jury instructions, marking a critical phase in Sam Bankman-Fried’s ongoing trial. These instructions will guide the jury in deciding Bankman-Fried’s fate.
Here’s a breakdown of the key developments.
Proposed Jury Instructions
Judge Kaplan faces a crucial decision as he prepares to explain the seven charges against Bankman-Fried to the jury. The prosecution and defense have provided their suggestions, and the judge can choose one or find a middle ground.
The U.S. Department of Justice’s proposal emphasizes the seriousness of the accusations, with the aim of building a solid case against Bankman-Fried.
On the other side, Bankman-Fried’s defense team aims to present different interpretations of the statutes, highlighting potential issues with the prosecution’s argument. Judge Kaplan plays a critical role in evaluating both proposals and determining the most suitable jury instruction.
Guidelines Laid Out
Both submissions agree on the need for clear explanations of the charges and a closer examination of the indictment.
In addition to the proposals, the legal teams have given specific guidance on their unique concerns about the case and how the jury should weigh particular testimonies. These proposals, which have been contentious since before the trial began, were finally submitted on Thursday.
Defense Speaks
The brief submitted by the defense states, “A witness’s stated feeling or belief as to what the law should or should not have prohibited is not sufficient to convict anyone of any charge ….. You are to break it down to the elements, assess whether there is proof beyond a reasonable doubt as to each of those elements, and then, with that determination made, you can render a unanimous verdict.”
The defense’s petition asked Kaplan to clarify how “property” “does not include intangible interests,” which the DOJ expressly disagreed with.
Also Read: Prosecutors Deny Defense Argument in Sam Bankman-Fried Trial!
Brief By The Prosecutors
As for the prosecutors want the judge to make it clear to the jury that the DOJ is alleging Bankman-Fried has taken customer and investor funds and misappropriated them for personal use. They want to end any argument that Bankman-Fried’s actions surrounding FTX and Alameda were tied to charitable giving.
The Prosecuting Department of Justice’s brief stated, “The defendant has in certain public statements emphasized his philosophy of so-called ‘effective altruism’ to argue that his business decisions were motivated by a desire to do good in the world… As courts have repeatedly recognized, such arguments are not a defense to fraud or other criminal charges.”
Similar to the defense’s brief, the DOJ filing claimed that other suggested paragraphs in the defense file were not factual defenses to the accusations made by the prosecution.
Read More: Sam Bankman-Fried Was Manipulating Bitcoin Price to Stay Under $20,000, Ellison Claims
The court’s business was suspended on Thursday and will resume on October 26.
Source: https://coinpedia.org/news/sbf-trial-to-set-up-a-final-jury-both-defence-doj-submit-respective-briefs/