US:A jury has begun deliberating the fate of the fallen press baron Conrad Black, who could face decades in prison if convicted of masterminding the theft of $60 million (€44 million) from his Hollinger media empire.
Judge Amy St Eve told the jurors to leave aside consideration of the age, sex, race, ancestry or economic status of Lord Black and his co-defendants Jack Boultbee, Peter Atkinson and Mark Kipnis. "Do not allow any sympathy, prejudice or public opinion to influence you," she said, urging them to use "common sense".
The four defendants, all former senior Hollinger executives, face different combinations of 16 charges. All are accused of fraud and tax evasion. Lord Black (62) also faces counts of racketeering and of obstructing justice by removing documents from his Toronto office at the height of an investigation into his conduct.
According to the US government, the peer was the brains and inspiration behind a scheme to embezzle $60 million through "non-compete" payments attached to the sale of local newspaper titles in the US and Canada. - ( Guardian service)