A 21-YEAR-OLD man who was found dead in the boot of a burnt-out car feared he was being "set up" before his death, a court has heard.

Gagandip Singh 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 after the vehicle had been set alight.

The Old Bailey has heard that Mr Singh was besotted with one of the defendants, Mundill Mahil, and at the end of August 2010 he had spent the night at her student accommodation in Brighton and tried to have sex with her.

They both described it as attempted rape and stopped talking, despite Mr Singh making several attempts to get in contact with the accused, the court heard.

However Mahil contacted Mr Singh six months after the incident and invited him to meet her at that same address.

Today jurors heard from Mr Singh's business partner Damesh Shergill.

Together they had set up religious TV channel, Sikh TV, in October last year, and had become close friends.

Mr Shergill told the court that on February 25, the day before the Mr Singh died, he received a call from the victim informing him that Mahil wanted to meet him at 11pm that night.

Mr Shergill said: "Somebody calling you out at 11 o'clock at night sounds strange."

After the phone call Mr Singh and Mr Shergill exchanged text messages and Mr Shergill advised him not to go.

Prosecutor Aftab Jafferjee said to the witness: "Then he sends you a text saying 'I feel I could be set up'. You send him a text saying 'You could be set up. Why 11pm?'.

"At that time, what did you think 'set up' to mean?"

Mr Shergill said: "I just thought she was going to mess him around again, not turn up."

Jurors have heard that Mr Singh did go to Brighton that night, where it is alleged he was beaten up by Harinder Shoker and Darren Peters, before being stuffed into the boot of his sister's Mercedes and driven to Blackheath where the vehicle, with him still in it, was set on fire.

Mahil from Chatham, Shoker of Charlton Park Lane, Charlton, and Peters, of Shooters Hill Road, Blackheath, all aged 20, deny murder.

This afternoon the court is expected to hear from one of Mahil's housemates, Rebecca Edwards.

The trial continues.