Tycoon Nicholas Hoogstraten said he found years of legal wrangles with landlord Mohammed Raja a "light relief from his humdrum existence".

The multi-millionaire had a series of civil litigation battles with Mr Raja from 1993 until his death in 1999, the Old Bailey heard.

Hoogstraten is accused of hiring two hitmen to murder his former business associate after Mr Raja accused him of fraud.

David Waters, prosecuting, said this accusation, levelled in 1999, raised the stakes between the pair.

But, in his fourth day giving evidence, Hoogstraten insisted he was not concerned by Mr Raja and the litigation. He even represented himself in court.

He told the jury: "I used to quite enjoy going along to Brighton County Court. It was a light relief from my humdrum existence. I did not have to represent myself - I could send anybody along for £50.

"I think he used to like sitting down and talking to me. In the early days he used to like coming to see me in London with schemes he knew very well I was not going to agree to and could not agree to."

Mr Waters asked if it was Hoogstraten's wish to settle with Mr Raja. Hoogstraten replied it would have been sensible.

But he said: "Common sense was not something that figured very high in Mr Raja's mind. If he settled the litigation with me, what would he have to live for then? It was one of the high points in his life."

Hoogstraten told the court it was not until some weeks after Mr Raja's death on July 2, 1999, that he heard about it.

The jury was shown a letter from Mr Raja's solicitors dated July 5, informing Hoogstraten's solicitors of Mr Raja's death.

Hoogstraten said he returned from a trip to France on July 6, flying to Zimbabwe the following week. However, he claimed he was not told about the murder until his return from Africa.

Hoogstraten, 57, of High Cross Estate, near Uckfield, denies murder and conspiracy to murder Mr Raja.

David Croke, 59, of Bolney Road, Moulsecoomb, Brighton, and Robert Knapp, 55, of Convent Street, Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick, both deny murdering Mr Raja.

The trial continues.