CHICAGO (AP) — For the second time in two days, defence lawyers yesterday unsuccessfully sought a mistrial in the fraud case against Conrad Black, as prosecutors tried to salvage testimony about personal travel perks the former media mogul allegedly charged to company coffers.Ed Genson’s mistrial motion was swiftly dismissed by Judge Amy St. Eve after Genson objected to prosecution questions about Hollinger International’s accounting for payments alleged to have flowed illegally into executives’ pockets.

On Monday, a lawyer for co-defendant John Boultbee also was denied a request for a mistrial and separate trials for the four co-defendants.

Much of yesterday’s testimony centred on accusations that Black used a Hollinger International company jet for a personal vacation to the South Pacific island of Bora Bora in 2000.

Black, 62, is charged with racketeering, mail fraud and other offences. Prosecutors say the Canadian-born British lord siphoned millions of dollars out of Hollinger that belonged to shareholders.