Conrad Black's secretary has testified that the former media kingpin did not even look inside a number of boxes she had packed and he later removed from their Canadian office in what prosecutors have depicted as a move by Black to hide important evidence.

Joan Maida, Black's secretary since 1994, was among the first witnesses called by defence lawyers as they started their case in Black's criminal fraud trial following 11 weeks of prosecution-led testimony.

She described an incident in Toronto on May 20th, 2005, in which Black and his chauffeur loaded 13 boxes into Black's car. It was the day after the US Securities and Exchange Commission told Black's lawyers he would have to surrender some of his records, prosecutors contend.

The removal also violated a standing order from a Canadian court that no documents be taken from the offices without permission, prosecutors have contended. They have also said Black could have tampered with or hidden evidence from the boxes during the five days he had them.

Maida said she was packing up their offices at Hollinger Inc, because Black had to vacate by the end of the month. She said she was packing boxes that day, putting in "personal pictures, kids' stuff", as well as files involving Black's properties in Manhattan, Florida and London.