Playboy jailed for murdering caretaker over £2 million deal

A British playboy property developer was jailed for life with a minimum term of 20 years today for murdering a man during a £2 million deal.

Sadistic Thanos Papalexis thought harmless caretaker Charalambos Christodoulides, 55, would stand in the way of the sale.

He was tortured, strangled and hidden in a car inspection pit at his former warehouse home in Kilburn, north London, the Old Bailey heard.

His body was found two weeks later, in March 2000, after the transaction fell through, leaving Papalexis in financial ruin.

Papalexis settled in Florida where he led a millionaire's lifestyle while his business methods were called into question.

Until his arrest last November, he threw lavish parties, hired designer Gianni Versace's former home and held a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton.

Papalexis, 37, was found guilty this month of the murder and remanded in custody. Two alleged henchmen face a retrial.