Jury to deliberate in Martin Shkreli fraud on Monday trial
29 Jul 2017
So-called "Pharmacy Bro" Martin Shkreli will be able to post his views on Facebook Live for at least another two-and-half days.
Jurors will start to look at criminal fraud charges on Monday after a prosecutor, closed legal arguments by telling jurors that Shkreli mistakenly calculated he was "above the law."
"Use your common sense, and don't be distracted," said assistant US attorney Jacquelyn Kasulis.
"It's time for Martin Shkreli to be held accountable... for his choices to lie and take someone else's money without a second thought."
"The last few weeks have shown Martin Shkreli for who is really is - A con man who stole millions of dollars and it's up to you... to tell the defendant, 'It's over, it's done. No more,' " the prosecutor said.
The panel of seven women and five men postponed deliberations through the weekend.
Closing his legal arguments in the four-week proceeding, Kasulis told jurors the defence fed them a "fairy tale" portrait of Shkreli as a hyper-intelligent healthcare industry entrepreneur who never knowingly deceived investors in his companies.
Ending his closing arguments, defence attorney Benjamin Brafman reminded jurors that all of Shkreli's investors ultimately made money, thanks to the 34-year-old New Yorker's efforts.
''Who lost anything? Nobody,'' Brafman said.
Coming down heavily on the prosecution case which he described as a mixture of theories and erroneous legal arguments, he said, "They cannot throw stuff against the wall and hope some of it sticks. It's really that simple.''
