A prosecutor has told jurors at Texas tycoon R. Allen Stanford’s fraud trial that computer hard drives belonging to the outside auditor for Stanford’s Caribbean bank apparently were erased after the auditor died.
The prosecutor’s comment came during questioning of a defence witness Friday. It prompted a failed mistrial request from Stanford’s attorneys, who claimed the information hasn’t been verified and could harm their case.
The issue came up when the prosecutor questioned a defence witness who testified he didn’t have access to the auditor’s work papers.
Prosecutors allege the bank was at the center of a Ponzi scheme that took billions from investors and Stanford bribed the auditor to help him hide the fraud.
Stanford’s attorneys have blamed his ex-chief financial officer for the alleged fraud.
