Conrad Black asked Donald Trump, the real estate executive, to put in a “cameo appearance” at a Hollinger International shareholder meeting to help him face down investors “conducting an insurrection”, a court heard on Wednesday.

Lord Black, who along with three other former Hollinger executives stands accused of stealing $60m (€45m, £30m) from the company via a complex system of “non-compete” payments, requested the favour even though Mr Trump owned no shares in his media company, the court was told.