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First Phase of Conrad Black Fraud and Racketeering Trial Under Way in Chicago

Posted on: Wednesday, 14 March 2007, 15:00 CDT

By ROMINA MAURINO

CHICAGO (CP) - He may cut a notorious figure in Canada and Britain but Chicagoans called as prospective jurors in his fraud and racketeering trial seem to know little of Conrad Black.

Questioning began Wednesday to determine the panel of 12 men and women who will decide whether the former media mogul is guilty, Judge Amy St. Eve asking to hear their views on Canada and Canadians, experiences with the law and authority figures, awareness about media coverage of the case and their feeling about corporations and people who make a lot of money.

One man said he believed Black had "something to do with Britain's royal family," while a woman said she had heard he was a businessman and that "his wife was very beautiful and smart."

Black, 62, appeared serious and weary as he leaned back to hear the jurors questioned, an occasional smile lightening his demeanour.

Wearing a grey suit, blue shirt and grey checkered tie, Black's gaze alternated between St. Eve and the potential jurors, smiling when one said she knew "not much" about Canada, calling it a "socialist country."

In a subdued beginning to what will likely become a loud and showy trial, Black slipped quietly into the courthouse Wednesday morning.

"I'm feeling fine," said Black as he, wife Barbara Amiel Black and daughter Alana Black made their way in through one door while cameras clustered around the former newspaper baron's lawyers at an opposite entrance.

Edward Genson and Edward Greenspan deflected media questions as they sedately crossed the street from Genson's office to the court.

The two are defending Black on charges of wire and mail fraud, tax evasion, money laundering, racketeering and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors allege he defrauded shareholders and used Hollinger International funds to cover extravagant personal expenses.

The charges revolve around the sale of hundreds of community papers and $80 million in "non-compete" payments allegedly pocketed by executives of Black's former newspaper empire.

During a short break in jury selection Wednesday afternoon, Black, his legal team and co-defendants slipped out of the courtroom behind a wall of security, eluding a clutch of waiting reporters.

He spoke briefly to his daughter and to Amiel, who looked stunning in a brown suit, orange silk blouse and long gold necklace.

While the trial's quiet kickoff contrasts with both Black's personally bombastic and confrontational style and a gathering hum of interest in Canada and Britain, it will likely heat up later.

The trial has drawn hundreds of journalists from around the world, with almost 450 registered to attend.

Possible witnesses include former U.S. secretary of state Henry Kissinger, former White House adviser Richard Perle, former Illinois governor James Thompson and tycoon Donald Trump. The men were either on the board of Black's main operating company or did business with him.

Lawyers on both sides have already weeded out some potential jurors through pretrial questionnaires, but the bulk of the jury will be selected by the judge over the next two days.

Experts say Black's lawyers will most likely want artists, writers and others who "see nuance" in the jury box, while prosecutors will be looking for blue-collar workers with a firm faith in the chain of command.

Greenspan, Black's lead lawyer, has said he is simply looking for a fair jury, which observers say shouldn't be too difficult to find in Chicago, where the media mogul is not as well-known as in Canada and the United Kingdom, where he holds the title Lord of Crossharbour.

Black has vehemently proclaimed his innocence and said he looks forward to his day in court.

The defence is expected to argue that Black relied on the advice of others and had no criminal intent.

Also charged are former Hollinger International executives Jack Boultbee, Peter Atkinson and Mark Kipnis. All four have pleaded not guilty.

Black's longtime business associate David Radler, former president and chief operating officer of the Hollinger group and former publisher of the Chicago Sun-Times, has pleaded guilty to one charge and is expected to testify against Black and the others.

Black's is the latest big trial for U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, who recently obtained a perjury conviction in Washington of Vice-President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, Lewis (Scooter) Libby.

Fitzgerald won't be on the prosecution team in the courtroom for the Black trial. He is entrusting that job to four seasoned young pros: Eric Sussman, Jeffrey Cramer, Julie Ruder and Edward Siskel - nephew of the late movie critic Gene Siskel of "Siskel & Ebert" TV fame.

Source: Canadian Press

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