On Eve of Sentencing, Black Says He Is Innocent

Conrad Black insisted on his innocence yesterday in a final act of defiance ahead of his sentencing for fraud and obstructing justice. The 63-year-old and three co-defendants will be sentenced today by Judge Amy St. Eve in the U.S. District Court in Chicago.

"Since I am, in fact, not guilty and the evidence is so flimsy, I assume reasonable people understand that it would be neither believable nor sensible if I suddenly started spouting false remorse for acts I did not commit," Black, a former chairman of the Daily Telegraph, said.