THE case of a racist murder of a Somali student in Edinburgh may be re-opened by the Crown Office's Cold Case Unit.

Campaigners for a retrial of the man acquitted of killing Axmed Abuukar Sheekh 23 years ago had feared it could not go ahead because productions from the original trial were thought to have been disposed of.

But Solicitor General Lesley Thomson has now said the case is being considered in a review of unsolved homicides that may qualify under the new Double Jeopardy Act. Confirmation of this was made in a letter to Edinburgh Southern MSP Jim Eadie.

Ms Thomson cautioned: "There is a risk of prejudicing fresh prosecutions by commenting further on individual cases or providing details on how a particular case is being dealt with. I therefore cannot provide any further detail at this time.

"However, I can confirm the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service will make full use of the new legislative power in qualifying cases."

Mr Eadie said: "I'm pleased the Solicitor General has included this case in her review of unresolved homicides under the 2011 Act. I appreciate there may be significant obstacles in the way of bringing about a fresh trial but we must do all we can to secure justice for Axmed and his family."

Mr Sheekh died in January 1989 after being stabbed outside a pub in Edinburgh's Cowgate where he and his cousin had been racially abused by a group of football casuals.

Three men were arrested but only two brought to trial. At the hearing, all charges were dropped against one man while the other, Terence Reilly, was found guilty of possessing a knife and of assault but was acquitted of murder.

Last month Strathclyde Police were told to reopen the investigation into the murder of Surjit Singh Chhokar 13 years after three men accused of killing the waiter were acquitted.