Opening arguments in the trial of former Theranos executive Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani were delayed on Wednesday after someone in the courtroom reported being exposed to a COVID-19 patient.
Balwani, the ex-lover who served as Elizabeth Holmes’ chief operating officer at the now-defunct tech startup, has pleaded not guilty to charges of fraud.
The federal judge presiding over the case in San Jose sent everyone home on Wednesday as a precaution. US District Court Judge Edward Davila said someone who attended jury selection on Tuesday was exposed to the virus, but tested negative. The judge offered those in attendance testing kits.
The trial is tentatively scheduled to resume on Friday, though it could be postponed until next week. Balwani’s trial was originally scheduled to begin on Feb. 15, but was pushed back due to the spread of the Omicron variant.
Balwani’s trial comes weeks after Holmes was found guilty of several counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She faces up to 80 years in prison. Her sentencing is scheduled for September.
Balwani is the former lover of Elizabeth Holmes, who was convicted of fraud earlier this year. Yichuan Cao/Sipa USAProsecutors in the Balwani case could call Holmes to the stand in order to testify against her ex-boyfriend.
Legal observers believe Holmes could offer up incriminating testimony against her former lover in an attempt to have prosecutors recommend a lighter prison sentence.
During her trial, Holmes accused Balwani of sexual and verbal abuse. She told the jury that his behavior toward her “impacted everything about who I was.” Balwani has denied the allegation.
Federal prosecutors allege that Holmes and Balwani misled investors about a revolutionary device that could allow people to test their own blood at home using a finger prick.
Balwani has pleaded not guilty.
Homes faces up to 80 years in prison for her role in defrauding investors. REUTERSThe trial of Balwani is scheduled to finally begin on Wednesday after a lengthy jury selection process complicated by the intense publicity surrounding the Holmes case.
Balwani, a tech millionaire, was 18 years older than then-Stanford student Holmes when they met in Beijing in 2002.
Holmes installed Balwani as chief operating officer at Theranos
During her trial, Holmes claimed her ex was physically, emotionally and sexually abusive during their decade-long relationship.
“He told me that I didn’t know what I was doing in business, that my convictions were wrong, that he was astonished at my mediocrity and if I followed my instincts I was going to fail,” she testified.
During her trial, Holmes alleged that Balwani sexually and verbally abused her. He has denied the allegations. MediaNews Group via Getty Images“He would force me to have sex with him when I didn’t want to because he wanted me to know he still loved me.”
She also alleged under oath that he exerted high degrees of control over her.
Balwani is said to have told Holmes what to eat, estranged her from her family, and put her on a schedule that had her working seven days per week.
He snooped on her text messages and hurled “sharp, hard objects” at her, Holmes’ lawyers wrote in a court document, which was reported by Slate.
