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Conrad Black 'to appeal' convicition

14/07/2007

Former media tycoon Conrad Black is to appeal against his conviction on three counts of fraud and one of obstructing justice in his Chicago trial.

Lord Black was acquitted of seven of the 13 charges he faced in the United States, clearing him of racketeering, other fraud charges and tax evasion.

All the charges related to $60 million (£29.5 million) he was accused of stealing from shareholders in the company which ran his global media empire, Hollinger International (HI).

His associates Jack Boultbee, Peter Atkinson and Mark Kipnis were all found guilty of fraud charges in the verdicts read out today, which came after the 12-person jury had struggled to reach a unanimous verdict in the case.

Lord Black, who traded in his Canadian citizenship for a British peerage, has repeatedly protested his innocence. Analysts say he is likely to appeal the verdict after sentencing is carried out at a later date.

The 62-year-old, a member of the House of Lords, could face several years in prison if he is found guilty of the charges against him.

The former owner of the Daily Telegraph was ousted as HI's chief executive in 2003. The company's larger newspapers were sold and it was subsequently renamed the Sun Times Media Group.

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