Elizabeth Holmes may attempt to claim 'mental disease' in Theranos criminal case

[Nevilledog]

https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/10/tech/theranos-holmes-mental-disease/index.html

(CNN Business)Elizabeth Holmes, the founder and former CEO of Theranos, may seek a "mental disease" defense in her criminal fraud trial, according to a new court document.

Holmes, whose failed biotech company purported to have revolutionized blood testing and was once valued at $9 billion, was indicted on federal wire fraud charges in June 2018, along with Theranos' former COO. The indictment alleged they engaged in a multi-million dollar scheme to defraud investors, as well as a scheme to defraud doctors and patients. They could face up to 20 years in prison.

The trial, which was initially set to begin this summer but was delayed due to the global pandemic, is now slated to start in March.

This week, Judge Edward Davila of the US District Court for the Northern District of California granted federal prosecutors the ability to have Holmes examined by two experts -- a psychologist and a psychiatrist -- over two consecutive days and for no more than 14 hours combined. The ruling comes after Holmes' defense team previously notified the government of intent to "introduce expert evidence relating to a mental disease or defect or any other mental condition of the defendant bearing on ... the issue of guilt," according to the filing.

*snip*

[TreasonousBastard]

1. All things considered, I don't doubt she has a diseased mind. But, so did the Green River Killer.

[dalton99a]

2. "Not guilty by reason of greed, narcissism and pathological lying"

That ought to work

[RockCreek]

3. State mental hospital?

Vs. Cushy white collar prison? If those are the options, the hospital is a bad choice.

[Takket]

4. March? Why the long delay?

Courts are open and functioning. I’ve been following a Federal case where an indictment was made in June and the trial was last week. The person involved wasn’t rich. Is that the difference?

[maxrandb]

5. OH! The Affluenza Defense

[lindysalsagal]

6. I love someone who worked for her then. It's all true. All of it.

Buncha nutters. And really really mean. They'd fire people in the middle of the busy work floor in front of everyone. The psych defense might just work.

[brush]

7. Since 2018 they've had a lot of time to think this up.

There's really no defense for their fraud so they might as well try this.