Toppled media mogul Conrad Black snuck past reporters and entered the court from the basement yesterday for a trial to determine whether he and his associates stole millions of dollars as his conglomerate crumbled.
The man who once presided over one of the world's largest media empires slipped past a horde of journalists and photographers waiting for him at the high-rise federal courthouse in downtown Chicago, entering through a basement level out of their view.
He walked into the court room and took a seat with his defence lawyers as Judge Amy St Eve called the proceeding to order for jury selection.
What follows may be a four-month trial featuring such witnesses as former secretary of state Henry Kissinger and Donald Trump.
The Canadian-born Lord Black faces charges of fraud, racketeering, tax violations, obstruction of justice and money-laundering.
Three former associates of Lord Black's at Chicago-based Hollinger International and its Canadian holding companies face fewer counts. Lord Black (62) could receive a 101-year prison sentence and more than $50 million (€37.8 million) in fines if convicted.
Lord Black, who once controlled a holding company with $2 billion in annual revenue, has branded the charges "a massive smear job" and pronounced himself ready for battle. "I want to face these accusers and expose this case for what it is," he said after one pretrial hearing.
The defendants are collectively accused of siphoning off $84 million from the sales of newspapers and magazines that prosecutors say belonged to shareholders of Hollinger International, the media giant he once controlled.
The company, since renamed Sun-Times Media Group, has sold off hundreds of Canadian and US newspapers, as well as London's Daily Telegraph and the Jerusalem Post.
Lord Black, a member of Britain's House of Lords since 2001, is also accused of misusing the company's money to finance a lavish lifestyle that included extravagant parties attended by celebrities at his homes in London, New York and Florida. He is also charged with using a company aircraft for a holiday and company funds to throw a birthday party for his wife, conservative columnist Barbara Amiel Black.
Each of the four defendants had at least two lawyers, ready to rebut the prosecution's key witness, former partner David Radler, who has pleaded guilty. The judge scheduled opening arguments for Monday, but observers said the two sides were likely to be polarised in the type of juror they want.
Mentioned as potential witnesses for or against Lord Black are former Pentagon official and fellow neoconservative Richard Perle, Illinois Republican powerhouse and former governor James Thompson, as well as Mr Kissinger and Trump. The first three were members of Hollinger's board of directors.
Trump may appear as a defence witness, to say he discussed his pending purchase of the Sun-Times building at Lady Black's surprise birthday party in New York - paid for in part by $40,000 in company funds. - ( Reuters )
