A MILLIONAIRE who died after being set alight in the boot of a car was lured to his death by the girl he loved, a court had heard.

Gagandip Singh, aged 21, of Langdale Crescent, Bexleyheath, died on February 26.

His body was found in the boot of a blue Mercedes C-class in Angerstein Lane, Blackheath, at around 2am.

Jurors at the Old Bailey have heard that the events which befell Mr Singh have their origin in his relationship with one of the defendants charged with his murder, Mundill Mahil.

Mahil, aged 20, of Regent Guest House, Maidstone Road, Chatham invited Gagandip Singh back to her home in Brighton six months after he had attempted to have sex with her.

Delivering his opening statement on Monday, Prosecutor Aftab Jafferjee said: "Gagandip Singh was plainly besotted by her.

"He wooed her with offers of gifts, whether they were accepted or not are a different matter.

"At the end of August 2010, he spent the night in the house that she had shared with her fellow medical students.

"It is common ground in this case that he tried to have sex with her, by getting into her bed."

He added: "Both she and he were to describe it as an attempted rape.

"In fact in her description to friends, it did not get as far as that because she forced him away, he broke down in tears and left.

"She reacted both then and over time in a way you would expect any young woman to act.

"She was extremely upset, she was extremely angry at what she, with some justification, perceived as a great betrayal of trust."

Jurors heard that as the months wore on Mr Singh, who owned Sikh TV, tried on numerous occasions to make contact with Mahil.

He had been very dependent on her and had turned to the defendant for support when his father was murdered in India while visiting in September 2009.

However, after the sexual encounter, Mr Singh wanted to continue to see and talk to Mahil, but she was not interested, the court heard. Mr Jafferjee said: "She (Mahil) told her housemates about how on occasions following this event, certain of her male friends which she referred to as gangster friends, wished to exact revenge and retribution on him (Mr Singh), but that she would discourage them.

"Unfortunately, by the end of February of this year, far from discouraging anyone from harming him, she lured him to Brighton, suggesting a meeting at that same house at 11 at night."

Jurors heard that on February 25 Mr Singh drove to Brighton in his sister's Mercedes.

Lying in wait for him in the basement of the house were the other two defendants charged with his murder, the Old Bailey heard.

Harinder Singh Shoker (referred to as Ravi), of Charlton Park Lane, Charlton, and Darren Peters, of Shooters Hill Road, Blackheath, both aged 20, deny murdering Mr Singh.

The court heard that Ravi was also besotted with Mahil and would do anything for her.

Peters was described as nothing more than the hired additional muscle.

Jurors heard that on the night Mr Singh was killed, Peters and Ravi beat him unconscious, dumped him in the boot and drove to London where petrol was poured over the car and set alight.

Mr Jafferjee told jurors that at the time the car was set on fire, it is scientifically clear beyond any doubt, that Mr Singh was alive, and "this is how is life was ended".

Addressing jurors Mr Jaferjee said: "You will find blame being shifted from these defendants on to each other. You must consider the case against each separately."

The trial continues.