Craig Wright’s wife, Ramona Watts, has been called to appear for an examination as part of the latest developments in the ongoing Kleiman v. Wright trial.
In a letter addressed to the British Queen’s High Court, dated July 22, Judge Bruce Reinhart requested Watts testify under oath as part of an international judicial assistance. The request is made on behalf of the plaintiff, as Watts’ appearance may be relevant to court proceedings and useful to the plaintiff’s case.
Plaintiff Ira Kleiman is suing Watts’ husband for civil theft, fraud, unjust enrichment, and breach of partnership duties of loyalty and care relating to a purported multi-billion dollar cache of bitcoin. Kleiman, who represents his late brother Dave Kleiman’s estate, alleges the Australian technologist unlawfully took possession of the bitcoin collectively mined by his brother and Wright.
Though the total amount of bitcoin is unknown, Kleiman believes the estate is due at least 300,000 bitcoins, and their respective forked assets.
Reinhart alleges in the document Watts, as wife and business associate to Wright, is knowledgeable to the facts of the case. She will be called to testify on non-privileged statements made by Wright regarding Kleiman, the creation of bitcoin, his mining activity, and the Tulip Trust at the “heart” of the case.
Of note is W&K Info Defense Research, a firm incorporated in 2011 by Dave Kleiman, and the firm’s former director, Uyen Nguyen. Watts will provide testimony regarding Wright’s statements that he was not involved in the firm and has lost touch with Nguyen.
The plaintiff’s council allege Wright forged documents and emails that purport Kleiman elected Nguyen to director “in an effort to facilitate [Wright’s] theft of W&K’s property,” a year after Kleiman’s death.
Also called to testify are novelist Andrew O’Hagan, who was contracted to write the The Satoshi Affair, which purports to be a biography of Satoshi Nakamoto, and Robert MacGregor, who has purchased Nakamoto’s life rights.
O’Hagan is said to have had close access to Wright for six months, and is compelled to submit his notes, “many hours of tape” interviews and drafts relating to the book.
The witnesses will appear in Boies Schiller Flexner, Ira’s council’s, office in London at an agreed upon date.
Law statue graphic via Shutterstock