Uphold Black's convictions, prosecutors say

CBC News:

Prosecutors have told a U.S. appeals court that they want all fraud convictions against Conrad Black to be upheld.

A panel of three judges is deciding how the case against the former Canadian media baron will proceed after the U.S. Supreme Court narrowed the scope of one of the laws used to convict Black.

Prosecutors argue that an instructional error to the jury in the 2007 case was harmless, because it was not the basis for Black's fraud convictions.

The defence filed an argument Monday stating that all of Black's convictions should be dropped because of the error.

The high court instructed lower courts to review Black's convictions in light of a new interpretation of so-called "honest services fraud" in June, saying it is limited to bribes or kickbacks, neither of which was Black accused.

Black is currently free on bail after serving more than two years in a Florida prison on fraud and obstruction of justice charges.