SAN JOSE, Calif. — A small group with cameras milled around on the sidewalk. Inside, a smattering of reporters stared into their phones. And when the defendant walked in, flanked by lawyers, barely anyone noticed.
“Sunny Balwani did not start Theranos,” said the lawyer, Steve Cazares, from the Orrick firm. “He did not control Theranos.” Taking the stand in her defense, Holmes blamed Theranos’ problems and many of her own mistakes on Balwani, who was the startup’s president and chief operating officer. She claimed that he had controlled every aspect of her life, including her work. She even accused Balwani of emotionally and sexually abusing her, an accusation he has denied.
In opening statements, prosecutors tried to tie Balwani’s actions directly to Holmes and to the deceptions at Theranos. Despite his lack of background in science and medicine, Balwani was put in charge of Theranos’ laboratory. In hearings before the trial, lawyers from both sides agreed to refrain from discussing Holmes’ abuse allegations, deeming them prejudicial to the jury.
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