Media Roundup: Gearing Up From The Holiday

Excerpted below are two preparatory articles, two analysis pieces, and one preparatory television report as the Conrad Black trial prepares to resume:

1. A short piece listing the next two witnesses to testify: Angela Way, who will be cross-examined today, and Fred Creasey, at one time Hollinger Int'l's controller and at another time, Hollinger Inc.'s Chief Financial Officer.

2. More detail about Mr. Creasey from the Globe and Mail's Paul Waldie. Contains details about a separate internal investigation conducted by Mr. Creasey in 2003, and also mentions that Mr. Creasey used to work for Ravelston, the company controlling Hollinger Inc. and, indirectly, Hollinger Int'l.

3. Two from the Toronto Star: First of all, Rick Westhead discusses how the prosecution team, and occasionally counsels for the defense, use body language in the trial. Secondly, Jennifer Wells squares off the $84 million figure used before the trial with the $60 million figure used in Jeffrey Cramer's opening address: the difference is found in the $11.9 million each received by Mr. Black and David Radler, in exchange for non-compete agreements in the asset sale to CanWest. She closes by noting that the prosecution will concentrate upon Mr. Black's performance of his "fiduciary duty."

4. CBC Newsworld had a televised interview with CBC reporter Mike Hornbrook, in which he sketched out what will take place in today's testimony. After briefly mentioning Angela Way, Mark Kipnis' "secretary," Mr. Hornbrook went into detail about what's expected to be heard from Mr. Creasey during his testimony. He'll testify on that Bora Bora trip, and more generally, about alleged abuse of corporate perks, including those pricey accessories charged to Hollinger. It's likely that there will be both direct and cross-examination of Mr. Creasey today. With regard to the speculation that David Radler may be called soon, Mr. Hornbrook related that Mr. Radler was "reportedly" spotted in Chicago a few days ago.

Mr. Hornbrook also gave some background on why David Radler is the prosecution's star witness: he "knows where all the bones are buried," and he has a very detailed knowledge of the Hollinger operations from day 1 - as reinforced, according to Mr. Hornbrook, with a copious amount of paper records that cover the deals he was involved in.