Libel Trial Opens Over Conrad Black Biography

Tom Bower, author of a biography of Conrad Black, and Express Newspapers owner Richard Desmond are meeting in court this week. Mr. Desmond is unhappy about statements in Mr. Bower’s book that he believes suggest he “interfered in editorial policy.” Media meets media, since Mr. Bower’s wife Veronica Watley was once an editor at the Evening Standard, and his book was published by HarperCollins, owned by Rupert Murdoch. Mr. Desmond also owns a number of broadcast outlets.

The first stumble: the first jury empanelled was discharged over “fundamental and important legal submissions submitted in their absence” according to the judge hearing the case, the legendary Mr. Justice Eady.