In a surprise development, it's been revealed that real estate tycoon Donald Trump is set to appear as a defence witness at Conrad Black's fraud and racketeering trial which kicks off this week.

The Trumpster is expected to tell the Chicago court that he attended a surprise birthday party in 2000 for Black's wife, Barbara Amiel-Black, reports the New York Times.

Trump is expected to tell the court that he regarded the event was a business gathering, not a personal celebration, because he was negotiating to buy the Chicago Sun-Times building.

US prosecutors have accused Black of spending $40,000 of company money on the party that attracted luminaries from everywhere. That's on top of the other charges that relate to alleged abuses of his position of trust. These include allegations of him using the company plane for a holiday in Bora Bora and buying a Park Avenue apartment on unfair terms from the company.

Black and three other Hollinger International executives have pleaded not guilty to charges of fraud, racketeering and obstruction of justice related to more than $80 million plundered from the company.

Trump's appearance is just going to add to the carnival atmosphere surrounding the gladiatorial court battle.

This is real bread and circuses stuff. It's going to make the trial the spectator event of 2007.