Tycoon Nicholas Van Hoogstraten should not be judged on whether he is a nice person, a jury was warned today.

His barrister said jurors should put aside anything they had heard outside the courtroom about the millionaire.

Hoogstraten is accused of hiring two hitmen to murder landlord Mohammed Raja in 1999.

Summing up at the Old Bailey, Richard Ferguson QC said: "Hoogstraten is not charged with arrogance. You may have your own views on that.

"He is not on trial for being rich and powerful. He is not on trial for his attitude towards his tenants. He is not on trial for his use of Alsatian dogs or heavy builders.

"He is even not on trial for spitting on a woman.

"I have little doubt that my client would not win a popularity poll.

"It is not hard to see him making an early exit from any Big Brother programme, but that is not the issue. That is not what you are here to decide.

"You are not here to decide whether you like or dislike anyone.

"You are here to decide whether the evidence compels you to the conclusion Hoogstraten is guilty of murder."

Mr Ferguson looked at Hoogstraten's relationship with Robert Knapp and David Croke, who are accused of carrying out the contract killing.

He said: "The Crown case throughout has been clear and unambiguous that this was a contract killing carried out by Croke and Knapp on behalf of Hoogstraten.

"If you find Croke and Knapp not guilty, then the Crown case has failed."

Hoogstraten, 57, of High Cross Estate, Framfield, near Heathfield, denies murder and conspiracy to murder. Croke, 60, of Bolney Road, Moulsecoomb, Brighton, and Knapp, 54, from Ireland, deny murder.

The trial continues.