Interview About Conrad Black on CBC's "The National"

The interview, on The National, was with Richard Siklos, the author of Shades of Black: Conrad Black - His Rise and Fall. Mr. Siklos counted the trial at this point as a “standstill,” but concluded that this leaves Conrad Black with the advantage. Csr. Cramer actually tried to stare Black down, from in front of the defense table while making those personal accusations, but to no avail; Mr. Black just stared ahead. Csr. Genson said in his opening statement that the case was so complex, it was hard for even he to understand, which got a smile out of the jurors. The jurors themselves were middle-majority types.

Black himself was characteristically grim, but was relatively lighter when his own lawyer spoke. He slouched in his chair, which Csr. Gerson joked about. David Radler, Siklos opined, won’t show up for his time on the stand until a few weeks later. It has to be shown in the trial that Mr. Black and Mr. Radler had completely different responsibilities, something that, Mr. Siklos added, will be very hard to establish.