A NORTH-EAST businessman wanted in Singapore on double murder charges will appear at the High Court of Australia tonight to fight his extradition.

Michael McCrea, 48, is accused of killing his chauffeur and the driver's girlfriend in January 2002.

He left Singapore shortly before the bodies were found, travelled to the UK and on to Melbourne, where he was arrested. Tonight, the former financial advisor and insurance salesman, will seek to appeal to the High Court against a decision by the Federal Court last week to extradite him.

Singapore has given an undertaking it will waive its mandatory death sentence for murder if the father-of-four is convicted.

But Mr McCrea, who grew up in Penshaw, near Washington, Wearside, said the undertaking was unenforceable by law.

His solicitors have been advised by the British Consulate General that Mr McCrea could be tried in the UK under a 19th Century law.

The Offences Against The Persons Act 1861 specifies that UK courts can handle murder cases where a British subject is accused of a crime abroad - but it is not believed to have been used in recent times.

Solicitor Terry Grundy said: "We are desperately trying to get Whitehall involved.

"This is the last step in Australia for Michael, and if he fails, he will be heading back immediately to Singapore for either execution or a lifetime of cruel and unusual punishment -caning, solitary confinement and deprivation of rights."

Mr McCrea denies murdering chauffeur Kho Nai Guan, 46 and Yan La Ming, 30 whose bodes were found in Kho's limousine.

Mr McCrea has been in custody in Melbourne since May 2002. His co-accused, girlfriend Audrey Ong, is serving a 12-year sentence in a Singapore jail after she admitted disposing of evidence in the case.

The High Court is expected to reserve its decision on whether to allow the appeal.