If Your Conrad Black

First stop should be the prestigious Nordstrom to pick up some blush to replace all of the blood that has disappeared from his pale face.

This was an extraordinary case with some pundits claiming this as the trial of the century. It is interesting to note that the public at large was not hurt due to Mr. Black, but rather private shareholders. Yet he himself is facing a long prison term similar to other disgraced corporate figures that not only robbed the piggy bank but stole from mom and pop's pension.

I do not believe Conrad, received a fair trail. The whole notion that the prosecution gets the last word through a final rebuttal of the defense's closing statement, with the idea that they must sit 2-3 times further away from the jury, provides a strategic advantage to the prosecution. Patrick Fitzgerald's assertion that the prosecution deserves this due to the burden of proof being higher for the state, means that they forget that some one's liberty is at stake, and this trial is the result of their (the Government's) actions. Not being able (or willing) to follow the same rules as the defense is indicative of a weak prosecution case, and should raise a reasonable doubt in anyone's mind.

Understand that trial by juries are based on emotion and senses rather than on logic and rationale. This is exactly why the whole idea of corporate perks were constantly thrown on the table for the jury to engulf in. Perks that these low incomers will never ever in their lifetime enjoy, is a classic yield of resentment at its best.

No matter how hard one tries to be logical and rational, they will fail in that act, not because of their effort or intelligence, but due to the simple fact that they are.......(wait for it) a human being. If your a child sex offender your better off with a judge who must employ more logic and rational (otherwise appeals become more frequent) than a jury of mothers of father (who do not have to explain their rationale). In Black''s case the jurors present were not truly reflective of his peers as the social/income disparity was so great, I can't help but wonder if this had anything to do with his conviction.

With that said, this case came down to credibility. Many of the star witness (Radler and the Audit Committee) were completely discredited, with it coming down to who do you believe? The government who wants to bask in the limelight of fighting for the little guy (in this case the shareholders) or the pompous arrogant Black who had made his lifetime story based on cheating (selling exams at Upper Canada college) to deceitfulness (getting the old ladies to sign away their inheritances) to deviance (defying a court order) to another court judge ruling that Black's credibility is as good as the bully in the schoolyard.

It is interesting to note that when talking to any legal scholar or prominent lawyer on this case, there is no consensus of opinion. Just as many thought he would be found guilty, as innocent, and just as many thought Kipanis would walk free, instead of heading to the jail cell.

As you can see Conrad Black has come full circle - From getting expelled out of private school, to using other people's money to fund his empire, to becoming a media magnate, to revoking his Canadian citizenship. to the House of Lords, to his decline and criminal charges. He has led a colourful life that is nothing short of remarkable, and has led to his reputation being shredded into confetti.

It is interesting to note that he has held many anti-Canadian views and seen as sorts, as an American apologist whereby Canada should be absorbed into the U.S. Now he conveniently wants his Canadian Citizenship back and wants nothing to do with the U.S., and according to his lawyers wants to stay in Canada awaiting his sentencing hearing. It remains to be seen though as he is a British citizen if he will be allowed to serve his sentence there instead of in America. There is no doubt he will not be barred from Canadian Citizenship due his conviction. This is Poetic Justice at it's best.

I don't believe Black is done with his life, where he'll just go sit in some Jail cell and start knitting. He is known for his defiance and going against the grain of society and therefore we can expect to hear more from him in the future. Whether this be in new publishing's or in the appeal courts, he is truly the anti-thesis of boring.