A businessman who steered Conrad Black’s Hollinger newspaper empire through a storm of lawsuits and investigations told a court that the former media mogul “was very knowledgeable” about the finances of the company he is accused of swindling out of £44m (€65m).

A judge reviewing whether Lord Black misrepresented his assets while meeting bail conditions in his fraud and racketeering case demanded more information from a lawyer for the former publisher.

A lawyer for Conrad Black has denied prosecutors’ claims that the former newspaper tycoon gave them false and misleading information about the extent of his assets.

R&B star R Kelly, released from a Florida jail, reported to Chicago police today to face child porn charges stemming from a video that authorities say shows the Grammy winner having sex with a 13-year-old girl.