Witness scolded at Black's trial

Mr Radler has admitted to lying about aspects of the case

The judge at the US trial of media baron Lord Black has told off the prosecution's star witness for deviating from the questions posed.

Lord Black's former business partner David Radler was on the witness stand for the sixth day in Chicago.

"I have told you multiple times over several days: restrain your answers to the question posed," the judge said.

Lord Black, a member of Britain's House of Lords, denies all charges of fraud and racketeering.

He and his three co-defendants - all former executives at the newspaper publisher Hollinger International - are accused of enriching themselves at the expense of shareholders by pocketing payments made during the sale of hundreds of its community newspapers.

Underplayed

Lord Black's lawyer has made Mr Radler admit several times to lying about aspects of the case in the past.

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

That approach continued in court on Tuesday, with Mr Radler admitting that in earlier testimony he underplayed the role of Hollinger's Canadian lawyers and auditors when the company's board was told about certain payments that benefited Lord Black.

Radler was sentenced to a 29-month jail term after admitting mail fraud in 2005 in a deal that was struck with the prosecution.

Lord Black and his accomplices are accused of effectively stealing $60m over a number of years through "non-compete" payments.

These are agreements designed to recompense a company for not competing with an asset it has sold.

The payments came at a time when Hollinger, once owner of Britain's Daily Telegraph, the Chicago Sun-Times and the Jerusalem Post, was selling hundreds of newspapers in the US and Canada.

Prosecutors allege these payments were actually improper bonuses, but Lord Black has argued that Hollinger International's board approved all the payments in question.

If convicted, he faces more than 100 years in prison and millions of pounds in fines.