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Lady Black's foul-mouthed tirade kicks off trial

20/03/2007

The trial of media mogul Lord Conrad Black has got underway with a bang after his wife stole the show on the first day of proceedings.

Lord Black is being tried for accusations he used his Hollinger media businesses to fund his personal lifestyle, allegedly using organisations to foot the bill for a range of lavish expenses.

However, on the first day in court the former owner of the Telegraph took part in a stop-start opening to the much-anticipated trial, as delays arose over the potential for prejudiced jurors as a result of media speculation.

Lord Black's legal team argued that the jury might have been unfairly biased as a result of media coverage of his former business associate and star prosecution witness, David Radler.

With a delay in court affairs agreed while Judge Amy St Eve interviewed jurors in private in order to ensure the potential for a fair trial, it was left to Lord Black's wife, Barbara Amiel-Black, to take centre stage.

A newspaper columnist and high society figure, Lady Black rounded on journalists as she and her husband left the courtroom.

Describing a female Canadian journalist as a "slut", she lashed out at those covering the case as "vermin".

The 66-year-old was critical of what she said was "doorstepping" by reporters on the trail of the high-profile case, suggesting the pressure is rising for the Blacks.

The case is expected to centre on the couple's luxurious lifestyle, with personal emails and private details set to emerge as Lord Black defends himself on charges including fraud, money laundering and tax evasion.

If convicted Lord Black could spend the rest of his life in prison over suggestions he aggrandised more than £40 million from various businesses.


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