THE girlfriend of Surjit Singh Chhokar has spoken of the “hell” she endured while waiting almost 18 years for justice.
Elizabeth Bryce had been dating 32-year-old Mr Chhokar when he was murdered outside her home in Overtown, Lanarkshire, in November 1988.
Last week, Ronnie Coulter was convicted of killing the father of two and is expected to receive a life sentence when he returns to the dock on October 31.
Read more: Surjit Singh Chhokar family says 'justice done' as man found guilty of 1998 waiter murder
Ms Bryce, once described as a “forgotten victim” of the violent attack, said the events of the night that Mr Chhokar died continue to haunt her and his family to this day.
She added: “None of us ever expected it to take this long, and it’s a disgrace that it did.
“We can’t bring Surjit back but it was important he didn’t die in vain. It’s been traumatic for everyone involved getting to this point, and I’m relieved now for his family that Ronnie Coulter will finally answer for the life he took.”
Coulter was previously cleared of murdering Mr Chhokar at a trial in March 1999 after lodging a special defence blaming his nephew Andrew Coulter and another man David Montgomery.
Andrew Coulter and Mr Montgomery subsequently went on trial accused of murdering Mr Chhokar but they walked free in November 2000, having blamed Ronnie Coulter for the crime.
Read more: Surjit Singh Chhokar family says 'justice done' as man found guilty of 1998 waiter murder
In December 2011, the Chhokar family’s lawyer, Aamer Anwar, wrote to the then solicitor general Frank Mulholland, asking that the Crown Office reopen the inquiry following the reform of double jeopardy rules.
Almost five years later, Ronnie Coulter’s retrial began and he was convicted of murder.
Ms Bryce, who gave evidence at all three murder trials, said: “Everyone hates to see injustice. If the prosecution had handled the investigation properly in the first place, all three men would have stood trial in 1999.
“I was totally shocked and disgusted. I had spent days in the witness box at those first two trials. This time around, like each of the previous times, I’ve felt the anger welling up, but I managed to control it because I knew it wasn’t about me and how I felt. I was about seeing justice for Surjit.”
Giving evidence last month, 56-year-old Ms Bryce described the evening when her partner died on her doorstep.
She said: “It’s been hell. Sometimes the pictures in my mind are so vivid of watching Surjit die and not being able to do anything to help. I was tortured for years by those images.
“But while it’s devastating for me, it’s nothing compared to what it’s been like for his family. They lost a son, a brother, and it broke their hearts.”
Read more: Surjit Singh Chhokar family says 'justice done' as man found guilty of 1998 waiter murder
Coulter’s conviction arrived too late for Mr Chhokar’s father Darshan, who died from cancer last year.
However, the victim’s family has said they were able to take some comfort from the fact that Mr Chhokar’s first grandchild arrived on the same day the latest trial ended.
On September 30, baby O’Hara Khivi Surjit Melendez was born to the deceased’s daughter Honey Chhokar and her husband Sayri.
Mr Chhokar’s sister, Manjit, said: “We’re overjoyed that Honey has given birth to a beautiful little girl, but the joy is tainted with some sadness because Surjit would’ve been so proud of her.
“Ronnie Coulter still has his family – all we have is our photographs and memories. We will find out in due course what sentence he gets but it doesn’t bring Surjit back.” Mr Chhokar’s mother Gurdev added: “There’s no happiness for us, but we’re relieved at the verdict. We hoped for the best but were prepared for the worst.
“When they said to Coulter to bring his hand out for the handcuffs, it seemed like the end. It was such a relief. He was getting a handcuff put on the hand which he used to murder my son.
“I miss my boy. I think about him every day.”
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