Black trial's closing arguments under way

CHICAGO, June 19 (UPI) -- Jurors in the fraud trial of fallen media mogul Conrad Black should get the case next week, as the prosecution and defense began closing arguments in Chicago.

In closing arguments Tuesday, the defense said prosecutors secured testimony of former business partner David Radler in a "sweetheart deal," the Financial Times reported.

Black, a British lord and former Hollinger International Inc. chairman, and former Hollinger executives John Boultbee, Peter Atkinson and Mark Kipnis are accused of looting more than $60 million from the international newspaper company, now called Sun-Times Media Group Inc., which owns the Chicago Sun-Times and other publications. Black also faces charges of misusing corporate perks.

In closing arguments Monday, the prosecution described Black as a liar who played the central role in deals enriching him and other former executives while defrauding shareholders.

"He doesn't care about the rules," Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Ruder said. "The rules don't matter to Mr. Black."

The biggest rule he broke was treating Hollinger as his private company not as a concern owned by public shareholders, she said. In the process, he and others "systematically stole over $60 million."