Family Seek Justice For Stab Victim

8th January 2012, 11:24

The family of an Asian man murdered more than 13 years ago in Lanarkshire want to meet with Scotland's most senior law official over the case.

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Surjit Singh Chhokar was stabbed to death outside the home he shared with his girlfriend in Overtown, Lanarkshire in November 1998.

The murder, dubbed "Scotland's Stephen Lawrence'' sparked controversy after the failure of prosecuting authorities to bring a conviction for his killing despite the arrests of three men and two subsequent trials.

Two official inquiries ordered in the wake of the legal episode made allegations of `"institutional racism''.

Following the publication of the reports, the then Lord Advocate, Colin Boyd QC, said that the Chhokar family had been failed by the police and prosecution services.

Now the waiter's family want to meet the Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland to seek a reinvestigation of the murder.

Reform of Scotland's centuries-old double jeopardy law, which came into force at the end of last year, means the men originally accused of the murder could face a retrial.

Mr Chhokar's niece Jasneet Sangha, who speaks on behalf of the family told the Scottish Mail on Sunday:
"We want the case reopened and reinvestigated and if there is any shred of evidence, we want the killers brought to justice''.

Family lawyer Aamer Anwar said the family would be seeking a meeting with the Lord Advocate this week.

He told the newspaper:
"The family will be asking him for a meeting within the next few weeks to seek a reinvestigation.

The family have never asked for much. All they have ever asked for is justice. Let's hope they will now get it after all these years''.