Conrad Black Verdict today

[Slava]

I don't know how many others are following this. For some reason I find this quite intriguing!

The jury has reached a verdict though:

http://www.reportonbusiness.com/serv...dict_Main_0713

[Cowperson]

Not guilty on racketeering, guilty on obstruction.

Generally, four guilty and nine not guilty verdicts.

Jail time for sure. Potentially 35 years according to ROB.

Cowperson

[fredr123]

I've been following Mark Steyn's Blog for some time. He painted quite a different picture of the likelihood of conviction.

You gotta wonder about the potential for appeal. The jury came back earlier this week and said they were deadlocked, unable to reach a verdict. Then the trial judge directed them to go back and try harder to reach a consensus. I'm no lawyer or anything, but that strikes me as potentially prejudicial to the accuseds...

[mykalberta]

Apart from the obvious all not guilty, this is the best thing that could have happened for Black.

In the US, of the times when there was a mistrial and the prosecution is able to go at it again, 95% of the time there is conviction, and lately on these financial type cases there has been 100% conviction.

He will likely see jail time, probably less than 5 years. For him the big thing is the civil cases pending just got dealt a serious blow.

MYK

[FurnaceFace]

Originally Posted by fredr123

I'm no lawyer or anything

You're a lot closer than most of us!

[Flames89]

Originally Posted by fredr123

I've been following Mark Steyn's Blog for some time. He painted quite a different picture of the likelihood of conviction.

You gotta wonder about the potential for appeal. The jury came back earlier this week and said they were deadlocked, unable to reach a verdict. Then the trial judge directed them to go back and try harder to reach a consensus. I'm no lawyer or anything, but that strikes me as potentially prejudicial to the accuseds...

IF one thing this trial should have taught you is to question the biased nature of journalists.

Mark Steyn and Conrad are have some personal/business connections, and loyalists to Conrad are fierce as they stand to profit if he succeeds.

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by Flames89

IF one thing this trial should have taught you is to question the biased nature of journalists.

Mark Steyn and Conrad are have some personal/business connections, and loyalists to Conrad are fierce as they stand to profit if he succeeds.

Oh absolutely. Dude used to have dinner with Black and others in that court room on a semi-regular basis. Other reporters were all over him for being a Black-backer.

[Cowperson]

I'm glad I'm not the one who has to do the finger probe during the strip search of this fat ass when he gets tossed in the klink.

That video of him supervising the removal of boxes from his office, the day before he thought a video surveillance system was being installed (they were early), is pretty hilarious and was probably very damaging.

Maybe next time he'll hire a lawyer who actually knows American law before the trial starts.

A good conviction for shareholders.

Cowperson

[mykalberta]

The Canadian media is default anti-Black because of the whole Cretien-UK Knighting thing.

Canadians dont like splashy types, never have never will. If he was an American, he would be looked at as some kind of buisness genius.

MYK

[Cowperson]

He is currently still in the courtroom . . . . the judge will likely decide shortly if he is a flight risk and should be taken into custody immediately.

Cowperson

[Fuzzy McGillicuddy]

Originally Posted by fotze

No I think it is more to do with the stealing vast sums of money thing.

Conrad Black is a modern-day pirate.

=

[Flames89]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

The Canadian media is default anti-Black because of the whole Cretien-UK Knighting thing.

Canadians dont like splashy types, never have never will. If he was an American, he would be looked at as some kind of buisness genius.

MYK

Agreed with Fotze.

We dislike him because he said Canada is backwoods AND he is a raging criminal who did nothing but line his pockets while his shareholders lost value, time and time again.

[HOZ]

Originally Posted by fredr123

I've been following Mark Steyn's Blog for some time. He painted quite a different picture of the likelihood of conviction.

You gotta wonder about the potential for appeal. The jury came back earlier this week and said they were deadlocked, unable to reach a verdict. Then the trial judge directed them to go back and try harder to reach a consensus. I'm no lawyer or anything, but that strikes me as potentially prejudicial to the accuseds...

As a fellow big Steyn fan.......

Steyn is way to close to Black to be objective. The video tape was damning!

[Calgaryborn]

I guess I have a soft spot for Black because of his involvement in creating an conservative voice in Canadian media. Or at least I have a disdain for those in the Canadian Establishment that are orgasmic at his fall. He obviously did somethings wrong. You always wonder though, how much was beyond the pale and how much was just standard dirty corporate practices. I mean if you put the same magnifying glass to the practices of others in Black's position of authority would they fair any better? I suspect most would be found guilty of much. Never the less, the law was broken and these type of high profile cases must serve to at least somewhat curb the excesses of some within Black's peer group. I hope Black gets less than 5 years.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by Calgaryborn

I mean if you put the same magnifying glass to the practices of others in Black's position of authority would they fair any better? I suspect most would be found guilty of much.

Well maybe that's what needs to happen?

[Flames89]

Originally Posted by Calgaryborn

I guess I have a soft spot for Black because of his involvement in creating an conservative voice in Canadian media. Or at least I have a disdain for those in the Canadian Establishment that are orgasmic at his fall. He obviously did somethings wrong. You always wonder though, how much was beyond the pale and how much was just standard dirty corporate practices. I mean if you put the same magnifying glass to the practices of others in Black's position of authority would they fair any better? I suspect most would be found guilty of much. Never the less, the law was broken and these type of high profile cases must serve to at least somewhat curb the excesses of some within Black's peer group. I hope Black gets less than 5 years.

Have you researched into Black's transgressions? This is not a case of just a greedy corporate type. He (allegedly) stole. Millions. Innocent people were hurt by his actions.

And as for defending him creating a "voice" in Canada? I am all for a conservative veiwpoint, but only as long as it comes about through a democratic process. People wrote what Conrad wanted to hear, that is not journalism.

[Calgaryborn]

Originally Posted by Flames89

Have you researched into Black's transgressions? This is not a case of just a greedy corporate type. He (allegedly) stole. Millions. Innocent people were hurt by his actions.

I honestly haven't done much research. Obviously the Jury has looked closer at the information than you or I. They concluded that he was guilty of soliciting and recieving kickbacks from folks for the pleasure of doing business with him. They also convicted him of moving documents that the court ordered untouched. I understand that shareholders lost money under
Conrad and others governship but that doesn't make them guilty of theft any more than it makes the shareholders innocent.

Originally Posted by Flames89

And as for defending him creating a "voice" in Canada? I am all for a conservative veiwpoint, but only as long as it comes about through a democratic process. People wrote what Conrad wanted to hear, that is not journalism.

A democratic process in Canada? Please!? We live in a country with a state run radio and TV station that is socialist in nature and lives to attack any view or person who dares challenge their world view. Look at the attention it gave the reform party or its view on war or America. Hardly balanced.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Conrad Black is a convicted crook who now has to go to jail with the other convicted crooks.

Made my day, that's for sure.

[Cowperson]

"The boxes got him," say legal experts . . . . good summation in the National Post . . . . . also the Martha Stewart comparison regarding obstruction.

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/s...3-cef2c9afe233

Cowperson