THE case of murdered Asian waiter Surjit Singh Chhokar should be re-opened to bring justice for his family according to a Glasgow MSP.

Humza Yousaf, SNP MSP, has asked the First Minister to ensure the Chhokar case is looked at again following the recent conviction of two men for the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence in London 19 years ago.

Mr Yousaf wants to see the changes to the double jeopardy law used to launch a fresh probe, even though two earlier trials of three men were unsuccessful.

Mr Chhokar was killed in November 1998 in Overtown, Lanarkshire, stabbed to death by a gang of white men.

Three men stood trial for Mr Chhokar's murder.

In the first trial Ronnie Coulter was tried and was acquitted after he blamed his nephew Andrew Coulter and David Montgomery.

In a second trial two years later Andrew Coulter and Mr Montgomery blamed Ronnie Coulter and they too were acquitted.

Questions over how the prosecution was conducted have cast doubt over the acquittals.

Mr Yousaf has now asked First Minister Alex Salmond if he would ensure justice is done for the Chhokar family.

Mr Yousaf said: "No one has ever been jailed for his murder. The Stephen Lawrence case shows the impact new evidence and new technology can have in delivering justice."

He added that a public appeal for new information should be launched and an investigation launched into the possibility that the three men have incriminated themselves.

He said: "I sincerely hope the Crown Office will open an investigation into this case.

"To those who committed this heinous crime they should be sleeping uneasy in their bed at night."

Mr Salmond said it was a matter for the Crown to decide if it was to revisit any cases and they said they had his support in doing so.

He said: "Considerations of specific cases is a matter for the Crown.

"The Solicitor General stated the prosecution service is committed to the pursuit of those who have escaped justice."

stewart.paterson@ eveningtimes.co.uk