Toronto Life: The Trial of Conrad Black

The Trial of Conrad Black Toronto Life

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Posts with category ‘Courtstalker’

Things I saw that left my jaw swinging: Part 2

Posted on January 3, 2008 by Douglas Bell

Besides Times man James Bone, the most theatrical character on offer during the Black trial was Tom Bower. He is a naturally gregarious—though somewhat laconic, even aristocratic—presence. Looking back, it seemed as though he was perpetually holding court, surrounded by journos made curious by both his trashy money-spinning biography of the Blacks and the concomitant possibility that should Black walk free, Bower himself would be subject to the mother of all lawsuits.

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Things I saw that left my jaw swinging

Posted on December 30, 2007 by Douglas Bell

As much as I dread it, like every other dog and his dog, I’m going to lift my leg and offer up a year-ender. In lieu of the usual categories (winners/losers, laurels/darts, thumbs-up/-down/-sideways) I’ve decided on an entirely subjective metric that allows for my eccentricity, narrative flow and abject laziness. Herewith then are the first three entries in a series of Things I Saw and/or Heard at the Trial of the 10th of This Century So Far™ That Left My Jaw Swinging in the Air Like an Poorly Hinged Window:

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The Courtstalker, Part V

Posted on June 6, 2007 by Douglas Bell

Another report from our man in the Everett McKinley Dirksen Building, 219 South Dearborn Street, Chicago:

I had a pleasant chat outside the courtroom yesterday with Barbara Amiel. We discussed her preferences in broadcast media. She claims to enjoy watching Newsworld (one of precious few, I can assure you, outside the nation’s catatonia wards) and has it playing in her bathroom on Park Lane Circle. Not a CBC Radio fan, she gets her radio news from the BBC, which she nonetheless reviles for its shameless and persistent left-wing bias. On other fronts, reports around the courthouse have it that within the last week or so Black, seeking divine intervention, dined with the Catholic Archbishop of Chicago. Black’s petitions in this regard are likely still pending.

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Black Watch: Today’s Top Stories

Posted on June 5, 2007 by Douglas Bell

If scathing contempt for this mockery (or whatever) is your bag, there’s plenty to hold your interest this morning. Where to start? In the whimpers-not-bangs department, there’s the defence seeking to recall David Radler in an effort to catch him in a lie. This is rather like catching the sun rising in the east and will, in the mind of the jury, fall somewhere between “Spare us” and “Sweet Jesus, take me now.” Filed under “I,” for “I just buried an ice pick in my head,” rests the litany of expensive items owned by Black drawn out by the prosecution from the testimony of a defence witness who was called to refute the argument that Black profited criminally from the flip of his New York apartment. It’s the trial’s Dennis Kozlowski moment, and the Eddies have no other Eddies to blame but themselves. Speaking of which, “sources say” that the decision to leave Donny Haircut on the bench came after the sombre second thought that the circus accompanying his arrival would undermine the credibility of his evidence.

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Courtstalker Part IV

Posted on May 11, 2007 by Douglas Bell

The full content of Conrad Black’s “Summer Musings” memo from September 2002 was shown to the jury Wednesday, much to the annoyance of the deflated press Lord’s lawyers. They promptly demanded a mistrial on grounds of “class prejudice.” Judge Amy St. Eve barely missed a beat slapping them down and then ordering Ed Genson not to call for a mistrial in front of the jury again.

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Return of The Courtstalker

Posted on May 10, 2007 by Douglas Bell

Once again, from the bowels of the Everett McKinley Dirksen Building, 219 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois, arrives a missive from The Courtstalker:

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Chasing Amy

Posted on April 4, 2007 by Douglas Bell

Once again, from the dank hallways of the Everett McKinley Dirksen Building, 219 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois, arrives a missive from a friend known only as The Courtstalker:

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Roughing it in Chicago

Posted on March 19, 2007 by Douglas Bell

With opening arguments from Jeffrey Cramer and Eddie Genson delayed until tomorrow and former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka out of the picture, we lead our coverage with an exclusive look inside the daily grind at the United States district court for the northern district of Illinois; Case No. 05 CR 727 USA vs. Black et al.

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