Two men were today found guilty of the murder of former Brighton landlord Mohammed Raja, who was knifed and shot on his doorstep in Sutton, Surrey, in 1999.

David Croke , 59, of Bolney Road, East Moulsecoomb, Brighton; and Robert Knapp, 55, of Abbeyfeale, County Limerick, were unanimously found guilty by an Old Bailey jury today. They had denied the charge.

The jury has not yet reached a verdict on millionaire Nicholas van Hoogstraten, 57, of High Cross, Framfield, near Uckfield.

It is alleged Hoogstraten hired Croke and Knapp to carry out the killing. He also denies murder.

The judge told the jurors they could return a majority verdict and the six men and six women - who have been deliberating for seven days - retired again.

Shortly afterwards the jury was sent home until Monday, still having failed to reach a verdict on Hoogstraten.

After the verdicts were read out, Knapp turned to the jury and said: "You have convicted an innocent man."

As he was being led away he told the judge: "You can send it in the post."

Croke was not present in court when the verdict was returned.

Both men will be sentenced later.

The prosecution alleges that Hoogstraten hired Knapp and Croke to murder Mr Raja after he fell out with him over a number of property deals.

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

The prosecution alleges that Hoogstraten was not present when Mr Raja was killed but that he was nevertheless guilty of murder because he counselled, advised, ordered, encouraged or persuaded Knapp to do it.

Mr Raja, 62, owned a large number of properties in Brighton and Hove but was in semi-retirement when he was murdered on his doorstep by Croke and Knapp, who were dressed as gardeners.

One was carrying a fertiliser bag containing a sawn-off shotgun. The other had a pitchfork.

When Mr Raja opened his front door to them on July 2 1999 there was a struggle.

One of the men opened fire but hit Mr Raja's ceiling.

Mr Raja was then stabbed five times in his chest and gut and he called out to his two young grandsons.

The gunman - it has not been proved whether this was Croke or Knapp - then blasted Mr Raja in the face.

At the time of the murder Croke claimed he was painting his son's house but a smear of blood linked him to the murder scene.

There was no forensic evidence linking Knapp with Mr Raja's home but records from his mobile phone showed he was in the area at the time.

He was tracked driving eastwards along the M25 towards Kent in the hours after the murder.