In 70 BC Gaius Verres, a Roman magistrate, stood trial for numerous crimes he had committed by abusing his power as governor of Sicily from 73 to 71 BC. Defending him, Quintus Hortensius, a successful Roman advocate and orator, resorted to biding time as a potentially successful strategy, hoping to delay the trial until Verres's allies, who had won the local elections, would be installed in office. On August 5, 70 BC Marcus Tullius Cicero, acting as prosecutor, abandoned the tradition of giving a long opening speech complete with intricate arguments and a lengthy presentation of evidence, and opted for a succinct presentation of the evidence instead, which, accompanied by witness statements led to Verres’ voluntary exile.