‘Mindless, horrendous’ attack on Chhokar murder suspect’s mother

THE elderly mother of a suspect in the notorious Surjit Singh Chhokar murder was in hospital last night, after she was subjected to an “horrific” attack in her home.

Mary Coulter, 76, was assaulted by four men who burst into her house in Wishaw, Lanarkshire, and left her with two broken arms, serious head injuries and cuts to the face. She is the mother of Ronnie Coulter, who was tried for the 1998 murder of the Asian 32-year-old, alongside her grandson, Andrew Coulter.

The two cases collapsed in chaos as each of the men blamed the other. The alarm was raised by Mrs Coulter’s screams at 5:20am yesterday as she fled into the street to escape her attackers, who had hidden their faces.

She is being treated in the Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, where her condition is described as “very serious”.

Last night, a family friend said: “We were told a couple of men burst into the house in the middle of the night and attacked Mary while she was sleeping.

“We heard she had been really badly attacked. There are rumours she was stabbed. She is in hospital and is in a bad way.”

Another neighbour said: “I was woken about 5:30am by police sirens. I looked out and there were CID officers and an ambulance at Mary’s house.

“The police have been here all day combing the area, and I saw an officer carry a pole out of the house earlier.”

Last night, Strathclyde Police confirmed they were investigating the “horrific attack” and described the suspects as white males who were all wearing light-coloured trainers. One of the attackers was described as particularly heavy built.

Detective Inspector John Lamb said: “I am speechless at the level of violence directed at an innocent elderly lady. It beggars belief that anyone could subject a woman to such a mindless, horrendous attack.”

Anyone with information should contact Wishaw CID on 01698 202659 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.