Libya 'will try' Yvonne Fletcher murder suspect

The last suspect in the 1984 murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher will be prosecuted in Libya if caught, a member of the country's new government has said.

Abdul Hafiz Ghoga told one of Miss Fletcher's colleagues, who had flown to Libya to seek justice in the case, that Matouk Mohamed Matouk was a wanted man.

Former PC John Murray witnessed her shooting outside the Libyan Embassy in London and vowed to trace who did it.

Mr Matouk, the only one of three suspects still alive, is on the run.

Mr Murray travelled to Libya this week to seek reassurance from the new authorities that there would now be justice for Miss Fletcher's family and friends.

Mr Ghoga, the National Transitional Council's (NTC) vice chairman, told him Mr Matouk would stand trial in Libya's courts over the murder.
Dying promise

There is no agreement that allows Libyans to be extradited to Britain.

Mr Matouk is also accused of crimes against the Libyan people, Mr Ghoga said.

Last month, Prime Minister David Cameron said he was sure the NTC would co-operate fully with Scotland Yard's ongoing investigation.

His comments followed reports that Libya's interim leaders knew the whereabouts of Mr Matouk.

Mr Murray was standing a few feet from Miss Fletcher in St James's Square when a gunman shot her in the abdomen from inside the Libyan embassy.

In the ambulance, just a few hours before she died, he promised her he would find those responsible.

He told the BBC more progress had been made in the last few days than in the previous 27 years.

After the shooting, Mr Matouk returned to Libya and became one of the most senior figures in the regime of Col Muammar Gaddafi, and a very wealthy man.

He has not been seen by the authorities since disappearing from his home outside Tripoli in late August.

Last month, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said it remained committed to identifying those involved and detectives were still in regular contact with WPC Fletcher's family.

The British government has said it intends to send police officers to Libya to continue their investigation into the killing.