CHICAGO - Conrad Black has lost a bid to have his remaining convictions dismissed on the basis that prosecutors "intentionally deprived" the former media baron from hiring the defence lawyers he wanted.

The filing, made last year in a U.S. district court in Chicago, centred around claims that law enforcement's seizure of $9 million of proceeds from the sale of his New York apartment left Black without enough money to retain lawyers Brendan Sullivan and Gregory Craig, who both worked at Williams & Connolly LLP in Washington.

Black purchased the apartment from his company Hollinger in 2000 for US$3 million and later sold for US$9 million. His lawyers argued that prosecutors deceived the court to obtain two warrants to seize the assets by concealing information that would have undermined their case for taking the money.

The former press magnate sold the Manhattan dwelling for $9 million, with the intent of paying for counsel to defend him against allegations of improper conduct at Hollinger International. Because the money from the sale wasn't available to Black, his lawyers argued that denied him his right to counsel.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/conrad-black-loses-bid-remaining-convictions-dismissed-224405313--finance.html