The trial of a man charged with the murder of Indian waiter Surjit Singh Chhokar has been postponed.

Ronnie Coulter faces the allegation that he killed the 32-year-old in Overtown, North Lanarkshire on November 4,1998.

The 47-year-old had been due to stand trial next month but at a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday the case was put off until August.

This is due to Coulter's QC Donald Findlay already being involved in a long running trial, which still has several weeks to run. Coulter was not present at the hearing.

Prosecutors allege Coulter was acting with two other men at the time of the alleged attack. The murder charge includes claims Mr Chhokar was punched and prevented from defending himself.

He is then said to have been hit with a wooden baton before Coulter repeatedly struck him with a knife and killed him.

It is further alleged Coulter, also of Wishaw, did previously envince malice and ill-will towards Mr Chhokar.

Coulter is then accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice which include claims he got another man to hide clothes worn during the alleged murder and a case of knives.

Coulter is further accused of later attempting to pervert the course of justice with intent to avoid detection, arrest, prosecution and conviction.

He also face earlier claims that on the day of the alleged murder, he forged the signature of Mr Chhokar to help cash a £100 giro cheque.

He is then accused of joining another man to break into Mr Chhokar's home in Wishaw and steal a cooker.

Coulter's trial is expected to last for around five weeks.