Media Roundup: Fuzzed Dice

The webbed and broadcasted media reports on the Conrad Black trial, for overnight and this morning, have this common focus: whether or not Eddie Greenspan will pull a rabbit out of the hat in today's cross-examination of David Radler, which he's expected to finish with either today or tomorrow:

1. From Chicago Public Radio's Diantha Parker, "Cross Examination Continues for Black's Second In Command."

2. The Hamilton Spectator has webbed a Canadian Press report, which states flatly that Csr. Greenspan has to land a "knockout punch" at David Radler's expense today. An abbreviated version of the same report, evidently by Romina Maurino, has been webbed by Canoe Money.

3. Peter Worthington's latest report on the trial, webbed by the Edmonton Sun, reviews how sure the multitude of observers had been that Mr. Black, at least, would be convicted of at least something, and how the successful cross-examination of earlier "key" prosecution witnesses swung the consensus around. He ends with the observation that the trial's still in play, though.

4. In the Globe and Mail, Paul Waldie reports that Dominick Dunne has issued fulsome praise for Csr. Greenspan's cross-examination skills, which may have ended a five-year feud between the two. (One never knows.)

5. A longer piece from the Globe, also from Mr. Waldie, profiles Csr. Greenspan, and highlights his troubles with his cross-examinations, not only because of the need to adjust to a completely different procedure, but also because of a difference in basic style between his and Illinoisan cross-examination. "He likes to move slowly with witnesses and develop arguments. But the system here is geared toward rapid-fire questions that illicit yes or no answers. Mr. Greenspan's tendency to ask long questions, often filled with argumentative statements, doesn't fit the rules and he has often been reined in by Judge Amy St. Eve." It also notes that Judge St. Eve has had to step in four times so far during his cross of Mr. Radler.

6. Janet Whitman of the New York Post describes Mr. Radler as "a surprisingly resilient witness." She quotes Steve Skurka to the effect that Csr. Greenspan is still himself. An unnamed observer is also quoted, who compared Mr. Radler to Mr. Smithers of The Simpsons.

7. From CBC News: Morning, broadcast at approx. 7:05 AM, Havard Gould reported that the expectation so far is for a “furious” but not “strong finish.” The consensus opinion about Csr. Greenspan's cross so far is that Mr. Radler has been dented but not really damaged.

8. From CTV NewsNet: an interview with Steve Skurka, in which he said that the defense has already shown Mr. Radler to be a “serial liar,” but the prosecution had thoroughly anticipated it. When asked by host Marcia Macmillan if the "knock-out blow" has been saved for the end, Csr. Skurka answered no; he added that Mr. Radler has been a surprisingly “elusive” witness. Had there been a knockout punch, it would have come Wednesday. Csr. Skurka believes that the jury is less wearied by the cross-examination than the observers are. But, Csr. Greenspan has better find a “fresh approach” or else Mr. Radler will walk away fundamentally unscathed. Putting Conrad Black on the stand would be terribly risky.

9. A column from the Chicago Tribune, by a fellow who used to work for the Chicago Sun-Times when Mr. Black was still there, which begins by scoffing at the Edward Genson's motion for a mistrial because of a disguised appeal to "class prejudice."

(I wonder at times if American liberals see the free market as inherently savage, if "jungle" is a code word for "Injun land.")

10. Tom Bower has written a lengthy report, webbed by the Times Online. He notes in it that the defense had gone overboard with regard to former Gov. Thompson's London jaunt, and that Mr. Radler had testified under direct examination that the existence of the 'template,' the 75%/25% split of non-compete payments between Hollinger International and Hollinger Inc., was never revealed to the audit committee. Its third-last paragraph discloses: "When the trial adjourned [for the weekend], Sussman left the court smiling. Radler, heading towards the exit, passed Black and also laughed."

11. BNN had an interview with Paul Waldie, aired at 8:23 AM ET. He said that Csr. Greenspan will have “one last crack” at Mr. Radler, and that the rest of his cross-examination will probably take all morning. Csr. Greenspan should move into another line of questioning today. One candidate for such is the two phone calls that Radler testified about, under direct, with vagueness on the details. The earlier cross was somewhat effective, at first, but it dwindled later to “boring.” There's been no “knock-out punch” so far. Mr. Waldie noted that Greenspan didn’t go far enough with respect to undermining Mr. Radler's testimony under direct, and that he underestimated David Radler. [Mr. Waldie has an associated report, webbed by the Globe.]

12. An updated interview with Mr. Gould, aired on CBC Newsworld just after 9:10 AM ET, had him noting that today is "a very big day" for Conrad Black and his defense team. Mr. Gould confirmed that Mr. Radler is as yet unimpeached as a prosecution witness. Csr. Greenspan basically has to establish that Mr. Radler, not Mr. Black, was the motive force behind any scheme - and so far, he hasn't done so. [There's also a webbed CBC News report that goes into this crucial day into more depth.]