The former head of crime at Strathclyde Police at the time of the murder of Surjit Singh Chokhar has joined the Chokhar family‘s call for the case to be reopened under the two trials law.

Graeme Pearson, now and MSP, said there was “unfinished business”, and criticised the original prosecution of the three accused, all acquitted after two trials.

His intervention comes after solicitor Aamer Anwar claimed that institutional racism was "still at the heart of our system” in the wake of the double convictions last week for the murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993. The case was reopened under the two trials - or double jeopardy - law.

Mr Chhokar was killed in 1998. Following two separate trials no one was convicted of the offence, leading to a judicial inquiry which found failings in the Crown Office’s handling of the case. Former Lord Advocate Colin Boyd, QC apologised for “incompetence, ignorance and institutional racism".

“It feels that with this case there is unfinished business given the way this was handled by the Crown at the time, allowing the accused to blame each other,” Pearson said.

“In terms of the Lawrence case, the only similarities are the fact the victim was an ethnic minority, and that there is an opportunity to look at it again given the reform of the double jeopardy law.

"Now that we can re-open the investigation into crimes like this again in Scotland, it would seem an ideal case to review, and ascertain whether there is a possibility of a retrial."

Humza Yousaf MSP also said he would “welcome any further investigation.”

"Justice is still to be delivered for Surjit Singh Chhokar and I would urge the Crown Office to revisit the case and to see if and when they can bring a fresh trial and put the perpetrators of this crime before the full force of the law," he said.

Last week The Firm asked the Crown Office if the Chokhar case would be reopened. It declined to comment and maintains a boycott of The Firm.

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