Black trial delayed until Tuesday

Conrad Black has said that he is confident about the trial

The trial of Lord Conrad Black on fraud and racketeering charges has been delayed until Tuesday, after objections from the media tycoon's lawyers.

Lead defence attorney Edward Genson said he had "real concerns" about Lord Black receiving a fair trial.

His objections came after statements involving ex-Lord Black associate - now key prosecution witness - David Radler.

Lord Black, 62, the former boss of media group Hollinger International, has denied the charges against him.

A jury at the US District Court of Chicago was due to hear on Monday the first part of opening statements in the trial, which may last up to four months.

If convicted, Lord Black could be jailed for up to 101 years.

Witness

Mr Radler, 64, who previously helped Lord Black expand his business empire, cut a deal with prosecutors and will be the main witness against the tycoon, in return for a reduced 29-month jail term.

Mr Radler agreed on Friday to pay $28.7m to settle a separate civil case brought by the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

On Sunday, the Sun-Times Media group - the company previously known as Hollinger International - said it had settled the claims it had against Mr Radler.

Mr Genson questioned the timing of the Sun-Times announcement. "I've never seen a settlement on a Sunday," he said.

He added that jurors may have been exposed to publicity surrounding the announcements.

Along with Lord Black, federal prosecutors have issued charges against Jack Boultbee, 63, the former chief financial officer of Hollinger Inc, the firm which controlled and managed Hollinger International; Peter Atkinson, 59, general counsel for Hollinger Inc; and Mark Kipnis, 60, corporate counsel for Hollinger International.

THE CHARGES Criminal charges 15 charges of fraud one of obstruction of justice one of racketeering Federal prosecutors allege Lord Black: fraudulently received non-compete fees from the sale of Hollinger International assets deprived the company of his honest services repeatedly benefited himself at the expense of the company and its public shareholders through the abuse of company perks Other executives on trial John Boultbee - former chief financial officer Peter Atkinson - former general counsel Mark Kipnis - former corporate counsel and secretary The fall of Conrad Black Jeff Randall: Has Black's luck run out? Profile: Patrick Fitzgerald

The lawyer leading the prosecution is Patrick Fitzgerald, the US attorney who recently successfully prosecuted Lewis "Scooter" Libby, former chief of staff to Vice-President Dick Cheney, for perjury.

Lord Black, an outspoken businessman who is married to Canadian journalist Barbara Amiel, once presided over the world's third-biggest newspaper publishing company.

The titles in his empire ranged from the UK's Daily Telegraph to the Jerusalem Post and the Chicago Sun-Times.

But the Canadian-born tycoon was forced to quit as chief executive of Hollinger International, after shareholders accused him of siphoning off millions of dollars in unauthorised payments to himself.

Lord Black will face accusations that he used company funds to pay for a lavish birthday party for his wife, as well as designer handbags, opera tickets and the refurbishment of a Rolls-Royce.

In an article published last week for Canada's National Post newspaper, entitled "I am not afraid", Lord Black said he was confident that the trial would find in his favour.

"As I know the facts and believe in the fairness of 12 randomly selected Americans, I am confident of the outcome," he wrote in the paper he previously founded.

Lord Black ran Hollinger International for eight years before stepping down in November 2003.

He renounced his Canadian citizenship in 2001, becoming a British citizen so he could take up a seat in the House of Lords.