Calls to reopen unsolved racist murder case in Scotland

Unresolved murders give families more pain than just the loss of a loved one. Take the case of Stephen Lawrence as an example.

The fight for justice has taken nearly 19 years and the sentences passed to two men for his racist killing has only been considered as a partial victory as other prime suspects are on the loose. But in the past couple of weeks, listening to the stories of Stephen's parents Doreen and Neville brings home the devastating effect the murder can have on family life.

So imagine the pain and suffering of the family of Surjit Singh Chhokar who was murdered in Scotland in November 1998. His family have spent the last 13 years struggling to come to terms not only with their loss, but also with the fact that no one has been found guilty for his death.

Three men were arrested and two trials took place, but prosecutors failed to secure a conviction. In 2001, reports were published following two public inquiries which prompted the then Lord Advocate Colin Boyd QC to say the Chhokar family had been failed by the police and prosecution services. One of the reports also mentioned the dreaded term 'institutional racism'.

But there are hopes that following the reform of Scotland's double jeopardy law which came into force towards the end of 2011, the men originally accused of Surjit's murder could face a retrial.

This week, his sister Manjit Sangha spoke about her family's plight saying the darkness of Surjit's murder was still a shadow in their lives.

"All that we have ever asked for is justice. The recent changes in the law once again gave us hope. I am extremely sad that my father, Darshan Singh Chhokar, cannot be by my side today. This is because he is extremely ill with cancer, but his last wish is that justice can be done."

She added,

"We are not here to start a campaign again. My family simply want the Lord Advocate to bring Surjit's killers to court and give us justice."

It has been confirmed that Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland QC is set to meet with the Chhokar family on January 26 to discuss reopening the case.

Humza Yousaf, an SNP MSP and member of Holyrood's Justice Committee, who organised the news conference, said,

"I think there has been a change of attitude this time around, be it from the Crown Office or others. People want this case resolved from all sides."

Image: Surjit Singh Chhokar