The Latest From CBC

CBC News' Harry Forestell expects "another day of high drama” in the trial. The correspondent he interviewed, Kas Roussy, disclosed that the courtroom is already jammed, an hour before the trial's start. The first event, come 9 AM CDT, will probably be the jury swearing-in. Judge St. Eve may order juror identities to be kept secret. The graphics are being set up, as well as some electronic slides for presentation to the jury. With respect to the Barbara Black incident last night: the CBC producer so afflicted, Melanie Glanz, was following the Blacks, as she has done so since day one of the event. Ms. Roussy chalked up the explosion to “pressure.”

[UPDATE, from the last morning report from Ms. Roussy: The opening arguments have started, with Csr. Cramer saying that six- and even seven-figure salaries were not enough for the defendants; he accused them of stealing tens of millions of dollars. He also compared them to bank robbers: bank robbers had guns, defendants had suits. According to Ms. Roussy, the jury was sworn in expeditiously, and Judge St. Eve announced that the trial would likely take 12-16 weeks. The trial will not take place on Fridays. Ms. Roussy also mentioned that Mrs. Black believes that the trial is more important for her than yesterday's flap.]

[UPDATE 2, from the latest, 4 PM EDT, report: Csr. Genson told the jurors to disregard Mr. Black’s image and lifestyle; he’s “no different from you or I,” as Ms. Roussy reported. In her instructions to the jury, Judge St. Eve specified avoiding Internet coverage, as well as the regular media's, of the trial. Based upon today's opening statements, the case likely to be both “dramatic and complex,” to use the words that Ms. Roussy herself used near the end of her report.]

[A Web news report on the opening arguments can be found here. From it: "In his opening statement, prosecutor Jeffrey Cramer said, 'Bank robbers wear masks and use guns. Burglars wear dark clothing and use a crowbar. These four wore a suit and tie.'" Another one is here, which has a quote from Conrad Black, referring to "an epidemic of shareholder idiocy," that itself was quoted by Csr. Cramer, according to the item. CBC itself has an extensive item posted, written by Romina Maurino of the Canadian Press, as well as one of its own, which has the complete "sophisticated" line from the prosecution in it.]