Jurors in the Conrad Black fraud trial are apparently as tired of the case as the rest of us. [NYP]

After a seemingly endless trial, jurors in the Conrad Black fraud case may begin deliberations today. [FT]

Conrad Black's defense team finishes closing arguments. This thing is almost over, people! [Chicago Sun-Times]

Conrad Black's defense seems to suggest that Conrad Black didn't even know that Hollinger International was a company he controlled, so innocent is the beleaguered Canadian media mogul. Jury deliberations may start this week. [AP]

Prosecution: "Why did the shareholders receive $60 million less than they were supposed to? Ladies and gentleman, keep your eye on the ball. Keep your eye on the crime." Yep, that's the best they could do. Pathetic. [NYT]

Conrad Black declines to testify in his fraud trial (and really, why would he?). The defense rests. [Toronto Globe & Mail]

Tax expert claims that the noncompete fees at the center of the government's fraud trial against Conrad Black were perfectly normal. The defense is expected to wrap up its case next week. [Bloomberg]

Common sense prevails, as Conrad Black's attorneys realize that letting a jury discover that their client is friendly with Donald Trump would cause irreparable damage to their defense. Incidentally, the smart money here says, barring any gigantic revelations towards the end of the case, Black walks. [NYP]

We're not sure what it suggests to a jury when you won't put your client on the stand but you will offer up Donald Trump as a character witness, but that's exactly what Conrad Black's defense team plans to do, according to the Post. Trump will allegedly testify that the extravagant 60th birthday party Black threw for his wife, Lady, "felt like a business event rather than simply a personal celebration," and, to a man for whom every single event in life including, we're guessing, intercourse, feels like a business event, that may very well be true. Anyway, Trump probably can't come off as any less credible than Black's secretary, who doesn't remember anything, even dates or seasons, about Black removing boxes of records from his office in defiance of a court order.

Prosecution drops money-laundering charge against Conrad Black, who appears ever-more unlikely to take the witness stand in his own defense. [Independent]

Jury sees videotape of defendant Conrad Black hauling away boxes from his office on the same day regulators told him that they wanted to take a look at his records. [Reuters]

Conrad Black was so concerned about shareholder dissent at Hollinger International's 2003 annual meeting that he turned to Donald Trump for help. The jury in Black's fraud trial heard yesterday how Black arranged for Trump to speak at the meeting and praise his stewardship of the company. Because when people are concerned about the way you're running your organization, there's nothing more valuable than an endorsement from a foul little man who's always teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.

Jury hears Conrad Black complaints about an "epidemic of shareholder idiocy" and threats to "blow [shareholders'] asses off." [Guardian]

• New York Times managing editor Jill Abramson is suing the driver that ran her down and his employers too. [P6]
  

• In an interview with the Guardian, Conrad Black calls his fraud trial "bullshit" and announces that he's at war with the U.S. government. The paper also has an excerpt from Black's forthcoming biography of Richard Nixon, which praises the former president's "surpassing dignity." Read into that what you will. [Guardian]
  

• Amazon to open digital music store that will only sell DRM-free music—so copy away, as often as you like! Our heroes! Suck it, iTunes. [LAT]
  

• Will Ron Burkle make a play for AMI? Will he bid on Dennis Publishing? And would he merge his recently-acquired Primedia Enthusiast titles with those companies, particularly for AMI's distribution arm? And will he admit to (allegedly!) owning Radar? [WWD]
  

• Ron Burkle buys the Primedia Enthusiast Group (Hot Rod, Practical Horseman, Motorcycle Cruiser, Dressage Today, Lowrider Arte) for a staggering $1.18 billion. [NYP]
  

• Harry McCracken, who resigned as EIC of PC World in a dispute with the mag's CEO, has been reinstated. The CEO has been reassigned. [Wired]
  

• Conrad Black's second-in-command turned star government witness serves up Lord Black on a platter. [WSJ]