Black's defiance 'may increase his prison sentence'

Chief federal prosecutor publicly abused by Lord Black during a press conference; judge may take this into account when sentencing him

Written by Penny Sukhraj

Lord Black of Crossharbour could earn himself extra time in prison if he continues his defiance over his 'guilty' verdict.

The disgraced press baron remained unapologetic in the face of his convictions of fraud and the obstruction of justice, and even hurled insults at the chief federal prosecutor, Patrick Fitzgerald, during a press conference.

The Times has suggested that Judge Amy St Eve may take Black's public abuse of Fitzgerald into account when she sentences him on November 30.

The 62-year-old media mogul and three others - former Hollinger vice president Peter Atkinson, 60, and ex-chief financial officer John Boultbee, 64 - were accused of pilfering $60m (£29.5m) in payments that were meant to benefit his former newspaper company.

'This war has gone on for nearly four years and the original allegations have been worn down to a fraction of where the started,' Black to told the Canadian National Post.

He said he had been vindicated, since the jury cleared him of three of the six fraud charges, as well as three counts relating to company 'perks', tax fraud and racketeering.

However, Black was warned about his comments during the trial, after he declared that the prosecutors' case was 'hanging like a toilet seat around their necks'.

The peer faces a maximum of 35 years in prison.

Sentencing regulation allows a judge to deal leniently in the case of a guilty plea or a display of contrition – an opportunity Black has clearly missed.

Black, who was out on a £10.3m bail during the weekend, is due to re-appear in court on Thursday for another bail hearing.

Further reading:

Lord Black found guilty of fraud

Auditor: No surprise at payments made to Conrad Black

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