11/05/2006

Appeal bid by van Hoogstraten rejected

Millionaire businessman Nicholas van Hoogstraten has been denied the right to appeal a High Court ruling that he was involved in the murder of a rival.

Mr van Hoogstraten, 60, from Uckfield in Sussex had been seeking to enter an appeal in relation to the murder of rival businessman Mohammed Raja in 1999.

The High Court ruling found that Mr van Hoogstraten was involved in the murder of Mr Raja.

However, his subsequent appeal, seeking to enter new evidence and cross-examine witnesses, was rejected by the Court of Appeal on the grounds that all evidence and due procedure had been followed in terms of the law. Mr van Hoogstraten having decided not to cross examine at the High Court in December last year will not now be granted leave to do so.

While cleared in the criminal courts, Mr van Hoogstraten is facing a civil legal action from the Raja estate seeking £6 million in damages.

Assets of £5 million belonging to Mr van Hoogstraten remain frozen by the High Court and he is refusing to pay costs of over £500,000.

Robert Knapp, 55, from Co Limerick, and David Croke, 60, of Moulsecoomb in Brighton, are both serving life terms for the murder of Mr Raja.

(SP/KMcA)

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