SAN JOSE — Opening statements in the federal fraud trial of former Theranos COO president Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani, the jilted lover and business partner of former CEO Elizabeth Holmes, were postponed Wednesday because of a possible COVID exposure among the jury.
Late in the day, Davila was finally able to swear in the jury and alternates and order them to report at 9 a.m. Wednesday for initial instructions and the lawyers’ opening statements. Balwani is defending himself against charges that he was Holmes’ accomplice in a Silicon Valley scam involving a ballyhooed blood-testing technology that flopped. The trial is happening in the same courtroom where a jury found Holmes guilty of investor fraud and conspiracy in January. She was acquitted on other counts accusing her of duping patients who relied on Theranos’ flawed blood tests.Holmes, 38, is free on $500,000 bail while awaiting her sentencing in September.
Other evidence presented during her trial described a couple bonded in both a secret romance and shared ambition to build a company that they promised would revolutionize health care. Before Holmes dumped him, Balwani played an integral role in the company that included overseeing Theranos’ labs. Meanwhile, Holmes focused on raising nearly $1 billion from investors and appearing in flattering media stories celebrating her whirlwind success in male-dominated Silicon Valley.
The texting exchanges between Balwani and Holmes — many of which included expressions of their love for each other — are expected to come up again during Balwani’s trial, along with much of the other evidence submitted during Holmes’ proceedings.