Former British media mogul Conrad Black’s defence lawyer grilled the US government’s first witness about hefty pay cheques he received from the Hollinger International newspaper empire.

Former media mogul Conrad Black’s trial began with the judge questioning a man who lost money in the WorldCom debacle, a woman whose investments went sour and more than three dozen other prospective jurors.

AT Hollinger International’s 2003 annual meeting, Conrad Black tried to disarm critics who alleged that he and top executives enriched themselves at shareholders’ expense.

Less than two months before the start of a fraud and racketeering trial, US prosecutors have brought new insider trading claims against former newspaper tycoon Conrad Black.

Conrad Black, the former owner of the Daily Telegraph, and three other executives have been charged with fraud in America involving the $2.1bn ($1.79bn) sale of several hundred Canadian newspapers and the abuse of company perks at newspaper publishing company Hollinger International.