[JURIST] The Chicago jury in the federal fraud trial of Canadian-born financier and former media mogul Conrad Black [JURIST news archive] reported Tuesday that it was unable to render a unanimous decision on all counts against Black. The jurors sent a note to Judge Amy St. Eve [official profile] of the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois [official website], explaining:

We have discussed and deliberated on all the evidence and are still unable to reach a unanimous verdict on one or more counts. Please advise.

After reviewing the note and consulting with the defense and prosecution, St. Eve repeated instructions to the jury on how to solve a deadlock and then ordered jurors to resume deliberations.

Black, former chairman of Hollinger International [corporate website], faces 17 counts of fraud, obstruction of justice, racketeering and tax evasion related to the $2.1 billion sale of several hundred Canadian newspapers. Along with other former Hollinger executives, he is accused [indictment, PDF] by the US government of diverting more than $80 million from the company and its shareholders [JURIST report] during Hollinger's $2.1 billion sale of several hundred Canadian newspapers. Black also faces charges of misusing Hollinger funds for actions such as throwing a $40,000 birthday party for his wife with company money. Canadian Business has more.