MURDERED Asian millionaire Anil Chohan left a letter with a clue to his killer's identity in his sock, an Old Bailey heard.

The folded piece of paper contained the name of convicted drug dealer Kenneth Regan (55), formerly of Ringwood, who is accused of murdering the wealthy businessman and his family.

Police discovered the letter after Mr Chohan's body was found near Bournemouth Pier by canoeist David Chapman and his son on April 22, 2003.

Officers unfolded it in the laboratory and discovered it was addressed to Regan. It was also dated February 12, the day before Mr Chohan disappeared.

Prosecutor Richard Horwell said: "Anil Chohan had intended to leave a clue as to the identity of his captors.

"It also means that Anil Chohan had known that he was going to be murdered."Regan, of Forge Close, South Newton, allegedly killed Mr Chohan, his wife, his mother-in-law and his two young children, to use his firm as a cover for international drug-smuggling.

The bodies were first buried on farmland belonging to the late Paula Yates' best friend, Belinda Brewin, in Tiverton, Devon, before being dumped at sea on April 20.

Pathologist Dr Basil Purdue examined the body and found it was still clothed in jeans, socks, shoes and a sweatshirt.

The head and face were wrapped in brown parcel tape, covering a large wound to the skull.

Dr Purdue told the jury he removed the shoes and socks and they were put into evidence bags.

But he did not find a letter, and said: "There was nothing obvious there."

Regan's barrister Paul Mendelle claimed it was later put in the dead man's sock by police.

He suggested to DC Richard Langdon that he had tried to "improve" the evidence by opening an evidence bag to insert the letter.

"It is suggested that you or others subsequent to the receipt of the bag put a piece of paper inside the sock."

DC Langdon said the bag was not tampered with by anyone after the sock was placed inside and it was sealed.

"Once I had taken receipt of this bag it was taken and kept in my custody. The bag was then taken to Barnes police station overnight and then to the forensic science laboratory," he said.

Scientist Clare Austin said there was no indication the bag had been tampered with when it was handed over to the laboratory.

Regan, together with former accountant William Horncy (52), of Bournemouth, and Peter Rees (39), of Portsmouth, all deny five charges of murder. They further deny the false imprisonment of Mr Chohan.

The case continues.