Thursday, June 5, 2008

CP - Conrad Black's lawyers face tough questioning at appeal court hearing

"I listened to the appeal. Based on the judges' reactions I would give the appellants almost no chance for success. The judges were simply not receptive. jcm"

CHICAGO Lawyers for Conrad Black faced tough questioning Thursday from a three-judge appellate court panel reviewing his criminal convictions.

Black and three other former executives of Hollinger International were convicted last summer of defrauding the newspaper company of millions of dollars through so-called "non-compete" payments.

Judge Richard Posner described the arrangement as a "sham."

Judge Posner also described Black's removal of 13 boxes from his Toronto offices contrary to a Canadian court order as "bizarre," the Chicago Sun-Time reports.

Black was convicted of obstruction of justice for removing the boxes He and the others were also each convicted on three counts of fraud but found not guilty on a majority of the charges against them.

Black is currently serving a 6 1/2 sentence in a Florida jail. He didn't attend Thursday's hearing in Chicago.

James Morton

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