Ex-media mogul Black’s trial begins

The trial of Media tycoon Conrad Black, one of Britain's best known businessmen started at a US federal court in Chicago. The flamboyant but controversial media mogul may spend the rest of his life in jail if found guilty.

Lord Black faces charges of fraud, deception and racketeering. He is accused of siphoning off millions from the company he once ran in order to lead a lavish life himself.

Lord Black relished the company of the rich, powerful and famous. Former editor of the Daily Telegraph, Martin Newland said about his magnetism, "When he enters a room, he carries his own climate. And the thing you always saw at these events were those trying to force themselves up his fundament."

Conrad Black was born into a wealthy Toronto family in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, but renounced Canadian citizenship in 2001 in order to become a life peer in the British House of Lords.

At one point of time, Hollinger owned the Chicago Sun-Times, the Toronto-based National Post, The Daily Telegraph of London and the Jerusalem Post, as well as hundreds of community newspapers.

Along with 62 year old Lord Black, charges have also been framed against Jack Boultbee, 63, the former chief financial officer of Hollinger Inc, Peter Atkinson, 59, general counsel for Hollinger Inc; and Mark Kipnis, 60, corporate counsel for Hollinger International.

Referring to Lord Black’s lavish lifestyle, Ross Albert, a principal at the Atlanta-based law firm Morris, Manning & Martin said, "He managed the company for his own benefit and had a royal, almost Louis XIV attitude towards his shareholders."

Lord Black was at his usual best and defiant. He said, "I am not afraid. As I know the facts and believe in the fairness of 12 randomly selected Americans, I am confident of the outcome."

Conrad Black now faces an equally belligerent US justice system that is dogged to harshly penalize those found guilty of corporate corruption.