One of the killers of a Leicester businessman, who was beaten and suffocated during a raid on his home, has failed in an Appeal Court bid to clear his name.
Sarwar Mejal Gader was one of three men jailed for life for the murder of Dogan Dogan at Birmingham Crown Court in November 2012.
The 36-year-old, of Gleneagles Avenue, Leicester, was also found guilty of robbery and was ordered to serve at least 28 years behind bars.
He challenged his conviction at London's Criminal Appeal Court, arguing he did not receive a fair trial, because jurors were told he had previous convictions for robbery and burglary.
But his complaints were thrown out by three of the country's top judges, who said the jury was 'entitled' to know about the earlier crimes, as they were 'clearly relevant'.
Mr Dogan's body was found at his flat above Aladdin's Pizza, in Linton Street, Evington, in January 2012.
He had been beaten and tied up, with a towel and several layers of clothing tied over his face.
The businessman, who was married with children, died of aspyhxiation and also suffered broken ribs and a black eye during the attack.
Takings of about £1,000 from the takeaway and from Mr Dogan's other business, Pizzaman, in Lutterworth, were missing from the flat.
A car belonging to another of the killers, Naveed Naveed, was seen being driven away from the area around the time of the murder and a witness saw keys - which belonged to Mr Dogan - being thrown from the moving vehicle.
Wali Khan, 33, of no fixed abode, and Naveed, 29, of St Stephens Road, Leicester, were also ordered to serve at least 28 years behind bars after being found guilty of murder.
Naveed was also found guilty of robbery, which Khan had admitted at an earlier stage.
Dismissing Gader's appeal, Lord Justice Davis said the other two were entitled, as part of their defence, to include evidence of their partner-in-crime's previous convictions.
Sitting with Mr Justice Turner and Mrs Justice Elisabeth Laing, he added: "The previous robbery was one involving serious violence and the burglary had also been an unpleasant offence.
"His criminal record was plainly of significant probative importance.
"Accordingly, the trial judge's decision was entirely correct."
