Elizabeth Holmes' defense team plans to employ the 'Svengali defense', portraying her ex-boyfriend as the mastermind behind the fraud.
The outcome of Elizabeth Holmes' trial will depend on whether the jury sympathizes with her defense or the victims whose health and trust were compromised.
Deep dives
Elizabeth Holmes' Deception
Elizabeth Holmes, the young entrepreneur who dropped out of Stanford to revolutionize testing with her company Theranos, deceived investors and endangered patients with inaccurate blood test results. The Wall Street Journal reporter, John Carreyrou, tried to uncover the truth behind Theranos' claims, but faced obstacles from Elizabeth and her team who went to great lengths to prevent the story from being published.
The Scandal Unveiled
Despite Elizabeth's denial, federal prosecutors corroborated the reporting on Theranos' deceptive practices, leading to her and her ex-boyfriend's indictment on wire fraud charges. Carreyrou's book, 'Bad Blood', exposed a decade-long trail of lies and deceptions, but new evidence has emerged since the book's release, shedding further light on the case.
Upcoming Trial and Defense Strategy
Elizabeth's trial is set to begin, and her defense team faces an uphill battle. They plan to employ the 'Svengali defense,' painting her ex-boyfriend as the mastermind behind the fraud. Elizabeth's defense will likely focus on shifting blame and portraying her as a manipulated and inexperienced young woman.
Challenges and Possible Outcomes
The prosecution holds a mountain of evidence against Elizabeth, including testimonies from whistleblower employees, investors, and deceived patients. While the outcome is uncertain, the jury's decision will depend on whether they sympathize with Elizabeth's defense or side with the victims whose health and trust were compromised.
Elizabeth Holmes, founder of Theranos, is headed to trial for allegedly defrauding investors and patients by misrepresenting the capabilities and accuracy of her blood-testing technology. Winning the jury’s sympathy is her best option to get acquitted. There are several ways she can do that.