LAWFUEL – Law Newswire – Bloombergs report that former Hollinger International Inc. Chairman Conrad Black lost a bid to recall chief prosecution witness David Radler at his fraud and racketeering trial while a codefendant’s request for a mistrial also was denied.
The double victory handed to the government today by U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve in Chicago federal court comes just days before the end of the trial. Black sought to recall Radler, an ex-Hollinger president, to attack his earlier testimony. The judge rejected a mistrial bid by ex-General Counsel Mark Kipnis.
“The legal system seeks finality,” former prosecutor Steven Miller said of the Radler ruling. “All attorneys are expected to get their work done during the portion of the trial that’s allocated for that particular subject matter.”
Black, 62, Kipnis, 59, former Hollinger Vice President Peter Atkinson, 60, and ex-Chief Financial Officer John Boultbee, 63, are accused of looting the company of $60 million. Prosecutors claim Kipnis helped Black, Atkinson and Boultbee steal the money disguised as noncompete agreements foisted on buyers of $3 billion worth of Hollinger assets from 1998 to 2001.
The prosecution rested last week. Defense lawyers said they expect to finish presenting their case next week.
