A wealthy businessman was gunned down in a contract killing over his links with a world of drug trafficking, a jury heard.

Dale Ken Harvey, known as Ken, was shot at point-blank range on a quiet Sussex road just weeks before he was due to stand trial for allegedly importing cocaine worth half a million pounds into the UK.

Mr Harvey, 44, who ran a lorry courier company, was shot five times through his car window as he sat at the wheel of his silver Mercedes at crossroads in the hamlet of Cripps Corner, near Battle.

The family man, who lived three miles away in Broad Oak, near Hastings, was on his way to work on the morning of August 18 2003 when he was confronted by his killers who were on a motorbike.

The murderers sped off leaving Mr Harvey fatally wounded. He died two days later at the Conquest Hospital, in Hastings.

Two men have gone on trial at Lewes Crown Court accused of murder. Colin Meek, 35, of Sanderstone Road, Leyton, East London, and Jason Bradley, 37, of Claygate Crescent, Croydon, both deny the charge.

The jury heard how detectives investigating the shooting believe the motive for Mr Harvey's death was linked to drug trafficking.

Mark Dennis QC, prosecuting, told the jury on the first day of the trial the murder had all the hallmarks of a contract killing.

He said: "It is alleged the defendants were responsible for carrying out the killing. They were doing it on the payment of those who had their own motives for wanting Mr Harvey dead."

The court heard at the time of the killing Mr Harvey had been charged with importing the cocaine.

Another man, George Taylor, from Kent, was accused with him of committing the offence in January 2003. They were due to go on trial in December that year. While Taylor was remanded in custody, Mr Harvey, who accused Taylor of setting him up, was released on bail.

Mr Dennis said the inevitable consequence of Mr Harvey's death was to remove him from the trial at Canterbury Crown Court which gave Taylor the opportunity to blame everything on the dead man.

At his trial Taylor denied any connection to the 20kg of class A drugs and accused Harvey of organising the importation of the cocaine. His tactic almost worked, said Mr Dennis, as the jury were unable to reach a verdict.

But at a re-trial in June last year he was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in jail.

Mr Dennis said that following a lengthy police investigation after the murder detectives believe the killing stemmed directly from the drug case.

He said the shooting happened at 6.45am as Mr Harvey reached Cripps Corner where the motorcycle pulled up in front of his car. He said: "The pillion rider approached the Mercedes and fired five shots into Mr Harvey's head and body using a handgun." He was left dying as the killers escaped.

The trial continues.