Ex-sister-in-law tells of murder confession

THE former sister-in-law of murder accused Ronnie Coulter has told a jury he said: “I stabbed the P*** b***ard.”

Noreen McPolland, 54, married to Coulter’s brother Andrew for 15 years, told the High Court in Glasgow the alleged confession was made when she visited him in Barlinnie prison while he was on remand for Chhokar’s murder in 1998 or 1999.

Mr Coulter, 48, from Wishaw, denies murdering Surjit Singh Chhokar in Garrion Street, Overtown, Lanarkshire on November 4, 1998 by stabbing him.

She was asked by prosecutor Alex Prentice QC: “Did Ronnie Coulter ever say anything about the death of Surjit Singh Chhokar?” and replied: “He said ‘I stabbed him. I stabbed the P*** b***ard..”

Ms McPolland told the jury she had been visiting Mr Coulter in prison along with his sister Margaret Chisholm when he made the remarks.

She added: “Margaret told him to own up to what he had done and he told us he had stabbed Mr Chhokar.”

Mr Prentice asked: “What was your reaction?” and she replied: “I got up and went to the canteen and I bought some stuff. I didn’t want involved in it.”

The prosecutor then asked if Mr Coulter had said anything else and Ms McPolland said he had when he visited his brother just days after the death of Mr Chhokar.

She responded saying: “My husband asked him if if he had stabbed Mr Chhokar. He said he had stabbed Mr Chhokar.”

In evidence given earlier in the trial Andrew Coulter admitted hitting Mr Chhokar on the arm with a homemade lead-filled bat, but denied stabbing him. A third man, David Montgomery, also denies stabbing him. Ronnie Coulter has lodged a special defence to the murder charge blaming his nephew and Mr Montgomery.

Both men have denied having anything to do with the killing of Mr Chhokar. The trial continues.