Mathew Martoma reminded Dr. Sidney Gilman of his oldest son — who tragically had committed suicide.
In a voice barely audible throughout the courtroom, Gilman, an academic with decades of experience, testified that he knew leaking private information on drug trials to the former SAC Capital Advisors portfolio manager could ruin his career and reputation, but something “unconscious” in his brain led him down that path.
Suffering with the memory of his son’s painful death, the 81-year-old doctor, under cross-examination during his fifth and final day on the stand, said Martoma was smart and engaged in science — just like his son.
The testimony continued to humanize Gilman, who earlier in the week testified at Martoma’s insider-trading trial that in the early stages of their friendship he refused to divulge any secret information to the hedge fund executive.
But over the course of more than a year, Martoma wore him down.
Earlier Friday, defense lawyer Richard Strassberg seemed to score some points.
Gilman, the government’s star witness, testified that he was feeling confused and divorced from reality.
Memory losses have plagued Gilman’s testimony — and are a weak point in the government’s case.
Gilman admitted in court that it wasn’t until two weeks ago that he remembered in detail a July 19, 2008, meeting in his Ann Arbor, Mich., office with Martoma, who had flown to Detroit, and allegedly took a cab 25 miles to meet the doctor.
He testified that they went over the final results of the drug trials of pharmaceutical companies Elan and Wyeth.
The first trading day after Martoma learned the results, the government alleges, SAC was dumping the stocks and then shorting them at a profit — and averted losses of $276 million.
The trial continues Monday. Martoma faces 15 years if convicted.