Property tycoon Nicholas Hoogstraten has said he is no longer sorry about the death of former business associate Mohammed Raja.

Mr Hoogstraten walked free from the Old Bailey last month when he was cleared of Mr Raja's manslaughter after serving almost two years of a ten-year sentence.

In an interview to be shown tonight on BBC News 24, he is asked whether he is "sorry" Mr Raja was dead.

Mr Hoogstraten, who lives in Framfield, near Uckfield, replies: "I was at the time, yes - but subsequently, as a result of the action by his family and that, I'm beginning to see things in a different light."

Father-of-six Mr Raja was suing Mr Hoogstraten at the time of his death in July 1999.

His family pursued his civil case after his death and in December 2002 won a £5 million claim for alleged property fraud against Mr Hoogstraten, who is appealing.

Mr Hoogstraten, 58, had previously described Mr Raja as "a maggot".

In an exclusive interview with The Argus soon after his release last month, he said he did not withdraw the word.

But he did not repeat it, describing Mr Raja instead as a small-time slum landlord with no redeeming features.

In tonight's programme Hard Talk, Mr Hoogstraten also insists he is still worth more than £100 million.

Mr Raja was shot and stabbed at his home in Sutton, south London, by Robert Knapp and David Croke, who are now serving life sentences.