Surjit Singh Chhhokar: Accused fit to stand trial

Indian waiter Surjit Singh Chhokar was killed in 1998. Picture: PA

Ronnie Coulter, from Wishaw, faces the allegation that he killed the 32-year-old in Overtown, North Lanarkshire on 4 November 1998. The case against the 46-year-old called yesterday at the High Court in Glasgow. The attendance of Coulter had been excused.

A previous hearing in March was told that it was unknown whether Coulter would be able to face trial.

However, yesterday his QC Donald Findlay said: “It is now clear that he will be fit to stand trial at some point in time.” A date in June had been provisionally set, but Mr Findlay added there was “no prospect” of a trial going ahead then as defence inquiries were ongoing.

This included the examination of 80 hours of CCTV evidence.

No trial date was set yesterday. A further hearing will take place next month when Coulter will again not be present.

The court heard it could be the New Year before a trial begins due to Mr Findlay’s commitments in other cases.

Prosecutors allege Coulter was acting with two other men – Andrew Coulter and David Montgomery – at the time of the alleged attack.