London: A non-resident Indian was deliberately killed by two thieves who ran over him when he tried to stop them from stealing a car radio worth five pounds (Rs.400), a London court was told.

Balbir Matharu, 54-year-old father of two, saw the men breaking into his van in an apparent attempt to steal his radio in the east London neighbourhood of Stratrford.

As they tried to get away, he stood in front of their car and banged on the bonnet but they drove off, dragging him for 40 yards and killing him, the court heard Thursday.

Matharu died a few hours after the incident in January 2006.

Brothers Albert and Tommy Willett, arrested six months later, deny murder. But prosecution lawyer Crispin Aylett said Tommy was secretly recorded singing a song to himself in his cell about his involvement in the crime.

"They were so desperate not to get caught for a trivial offence that they were prepared to commit a terrible one. You may think that at the time and afterwards, they simply did not give a damn," Aylett said.

"Matharu was not prepared to let them escape. He stood in front of the car and he banged on the bonnet with the palms of his hands.

"Matharu no doubt expected it not to move but the Willett brothers were not having it.

"They drove off. Matharu was dragged along for 40 metres. The car then drove over Matharu but even that was not enough to make them stop.

"They left Matharu lying in the road. They went back to the rest of their lives.

"They could not have cared less whether they hurt him or not. So he was killed for what? A car radio that no doubt could be sold in a pub for a fiver?" Aylett said.