Tycoon jailed for manslaughter could be freed

NICHOLAS van Hoogstraten, the property tycoon, could be freed after winning leave to appeal against his manslaughter conviction, his lawyer said yesterday.

Giovanni di Stefano said he was notified yesterday of a decision by Mr Justice Mitchell to grant leave to appeal - a move which could see van Hoogstraten’s conviction at the Old Bailey last year for killing rival landlord Mohammed Raja, overturned.

Hoogstraten’s legal team are now applying for bail for the 58-year-old and Mr di Stefano said : "Leave has been granted to appeal against conviction and we will now be making an application for bail."

Van Hoogstraten, whose palatial mansion near Uckfield, East Sussex, remains unfinished, is serving ten years in jail for ordering two hitmen to threaten Surrey businessman Mr Raja.

Raja had been suing his former business associate before he was shot and stabbed to death in July 1999.