Convicted killer gives evidence in Surjit Singh Chhokar murder trial
A convicted killer blamed by his uncle for the 1998 murder of Surjit Singh Chhokar admitted he had made a threat and armed himself with a home-made bat that night.
A convicted killer blamed by his uncle for the 1998 murder of Surjit Singh Chhokar admitted he had made a threat and armed himself with a home-made bat that night.
But, Andrew Coulter, 35, denied taking a knife with him when he went with his uncle, murder accused Ronnie Coulter and David Montgomery to meet Chhokar in a row over a stolen Giro cheque.
Andrew Coulter was giving evidence at the trial of Ronnie Coulter, 48. from Wishaw, denies murdering Surjit Singh Chhokar – who was known by everyone as Chhokar - in Garrion Street, Overtown, North Lanarkshire Mr Chhokar on November 4, 1998 by stabbing him.
Ronnie Coulter has lodged a special defence blaming his nephew Andrew Coulter and David Montgomery.
Andrew Coulter told the High Court in Glasgow that he, Ronnie Coulter and David Montgomery went to see 32-year-old Chhokar that night.
He admitted that he had stolen a giro cheque from Chhokar's flat in Caplaw Tower, Gowkthrapple in the morning of November 4, 1998.
Andrew Coulter admitted telling Chhokar's partner Elizabeth Bryce that '”Chhokar was getting it.”
But , when asked by prosecutor Alex Prentice QC what he meant by that Andrew Coulter replied: “A battering.”
Andrew Coulter told the jury he did not really want to go and see Chhokar that night, but agreed to do so after his uncle phoned him at 11.25pm.
The witness told the jury that he took with him a bat made out of an old table leg which had been filled with lead and covered in tape.
He said: “I took the bat. If I couldn't talk to Chhokar, I was going to hit him with it.”
Mr Prentice asked: “By this time had you spend the money from the Giro cheque,” and Andrew Coulter replied: “Aye. I was going to try and pay him back.”
The prosecutor added: “Did you take the bat with you when you set off for Garrion Street, “ and Andrew Coulter said: “Aye. My bat was up my sleeve.”
The court has heard that before the three set off to see Chhokar there was discussion about what they were going to do to him.
Mr Prentice asked: “Was there talk of violence, was there a reference to taking his eyes out with a spoons,” and Andrew Coulter replied: “No, I never said that.”
The prosecutor asked: “What kind of things did you say,” and Andrew Coulter answered: “Breaking his legs. I was trying to act the hard man.”
Earlier in his evidence admitted he had killed a Patrick Kelly by stabbing him in the leg on September 11, 1999. He was originally charged with murder, but convicted of culpable homicide and sentenced to six years detention.
Andrew Coulter also admitted being jailed for six months in 2006 for possession of a knife.
He was asked by Mr Prentice: “Who did you look up to then,” and Andrew Coulter replied: “Ronnie. He was like a dad to me.”
The murder trial, at the High Court in Glasgow, has already heard that Ronnie Coulter, from Wishaw, was tried and acquitted of murdering Chhokar in 1999.
His nephew Andrew Coulter and David Montgomery were tried and acquitted of the murder in 2000.
Ronnie Coulter denies the murder.
He also denies forging a £100.70 Giro cheque and breaking into Mr Chhokar's flat and stealing a cooker.
The trial before judge Lord Matthews continues.