The prosecution has presented it's case for a "pattern of deception", the defense has called Helio's dad to explain who owns that Panamanian company, and closing arguments have concluded. The jurors will now be awakened from tax-induced slumber and asked to decide the fate of everyone's favorite fence climber.
Guilty? Not Guilty? If the jury acquits him he could be in a Dallara in Long Beach next week.
"If he doesn't have any issue coming out of this, he'll be in a car in Long Beach," (Roger) Penske told reporters in St. Petersburg on Saturday. The second IndyCar race of the season, the Long Beach Grand Prix begins next Sunday. "If he'd have been done (with the trial) Thursday of this week, we'd have put him in a car here on Friday. We've never backed off a minute. In fact, it's a tough situation because he doesn't have a bad bone in his body and this is a complex offshore tax, U.S. government ... all of the above involved.Then again, he could be incarcerated. The jury is officially out.
"We certainly understand the concerns everybody has for him. We're hoping the jury sees he's not a culprit in this situation."
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I am sure he's alternately awaited and dreaded this day.
Best of luck to you Helio!
I have a feeling this will end happily for Helio...
I don't. And I'm not anti-Helio. I'm just not optimistic about this.
It depends - mainly on whether the jury wants to spend the weekend in a hotel. I see this as a case too complicated for Helio's peers to sort out "beyond a reasonable doubt." He's a nice guy, a DWTS celebrity, and a dashing race car driver, too. And he has people, lots of people, like his lawyer and accountants, looking out for him. I predict acquittal...or, am I already too late for a prediction?
Anon, you have until the jury comes back for a prediction!
Let's think about one simple fact for a second... the 12 jurors are following only want was told to them- and that made them fall asleep! It will come down to those12 people judging if he set out to not pay taxes.
I think/feel any 12 people in the world will not be able to get a 2/3 vote that anyone set out NOT to pay taxes. Deep down inside we all know any 19 year old does not understand tax law and when they hire a lawyer/agent to take care of it - they are not trying to get out of paying taxes.
so if he wins does he climb his lawyer ?
so if he wins does he climb his lawyer ?
More likely the jury box like he did the railing at Infineon last year. Either way, I hope we find out.