Tycoon made threats against solicitor, court told

Property tycoon Nicholas van Hoogstraten - accused of murdering a business associate - made threats about people who displeased him, the Old Bailey in London heard today.

Van Hoogstraten, 57, of Framfield, Uckfield, East Sussex, denies the murder charge.

He also denies conspiring with David Croke, 59, of Bolney Road, East Moulsecoomb, Brighton, and Robert Knapp, 55, of Convent Street, Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick, and others to murder Mr Raja between January 1 and July 3, 1999.

Croke and Knapp deny murdering Mr Raja. The prosecution alleges they were hired by van Hoogstraten to carry out the assassination.

Van Hoogstraten had ‘‘lapsed into his usual fulminating ways’’ during a legal dispute with a barrister, Anthony Browne told the jury.

‘‘There was a spectacular falling out. He did not have many nice things to say about him,’’ said Mr Browne, an architect who had helped in the design of van Hoogstraten’s massive High Cross estate in East Sussex.

Van Hoogstraten generally cursed the barrister, another of his business associates.

‘‘One of his ways is that he make threats about people who had displeased him. He said he was going to have him done - whatever that means,’’ Mr Browne told the jury.

The barrister was suing van Hoogstraten but the action was later settled.

After that ‘‘it was all rosy and gold between them,’’ said Mr Browne.

He was giving evidence in the trial of van Hoogstraten who has denied murdering retired businessman Mohammed Sabir Raja after he fell out with him over a number of properties.

Mr Raja, 62, was taking civil court proceedings against van Hoogstraten, alleging fraud, the jury has heard.

He was stabbed and shot at his home in Sutton, Surrey, on July 2, 1999.