Edinburgh, Jan 8 (ANI): Following the sentencing of two men for the racist killing of Stephen Lawrence, the Scotland police is facing growing pressure to re-investigate the murder case of an Indian man who was stabbed to death in an apparent race-related murder in 1998.
Scottish politicians have joined Graeme Pearson, who was head of crime at Strathclyde Police at the time, in calling for re-opening the Surjit Singh Chhokar murder inquiry.
Chhokar, 32, a waiter, was stabbed to death in Overton, Lanarkshire after a confrontation with a group of white men.
A 43-year-old man Ronnie Coulter was initially charged with murder, but acquitted following a high court trial.
In court, he blamed his cousin Andrew Coulter, 30, and another man David Montgomery, 34, who both stood trial in 2000 but were also cleared.
Ronnie Coulter was later jailed for two years for lying in the witness box, Scotsman.com reports.
Pearson recently described the case as "unfinished business," and called for the matter to be re-examined.
Meanwhile, Chhokar's mother Gurdev and father Darshan have criticised the police investigation, including the decision not to treat it as a racist crime.
The Chhokar family's lawyer, Aamer Anwar, said he plans to write to the Lord Advocate next week to argue the case for a fresh investigation.
"The Chhokar case has been an open running sore within the criminal justice system, for the Asian community and black community, and particularly for Mr and Mrs Chhokar and their family," he said. (ANI)
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