Opening statements planned in Black trial

The racketeering and fraud trial of former media mogul Conrad Black is scheduled to get underway in Chicago today with opening statements.

Black, 62, the former boss of media group Hollinger International and one-time owner of the Daily Telegraph, has denied all the charges.

Jury selection was held last week. Twenty potential jurors were picked to hear the case against Black, who is accused of swindling the Hollinger International newspaper empire he once ran out of $84m (€123m).

US District Judge Amy St Eve says she plans to bring the potential jurors to court today to seat 12 as jurors and six as alternates. The remaining two will be dismissed.

The Chicago Tribune on Friday asked the judge to release the names of the jurors, saying in its motion that the law provides for “a presumption of access to court proceedings”.

St Eve said she would consider the motion today.