I promised Yvonne I'd get justice for her...the quest goes on

Colleague to prosecute suspect

- SIMON MURPHY

HOLDING dying colleague PC Yvonne Fletcher's hand after she was shot outside the Libyan embassy 40 years ago, John Murray vowed to get justice.

And, as an anniversary memorial was held yesterday, the retired officer told of his plan to pursue a private prosecution against a key suspect.

Tireless campaigner John says the last words 25-year-old Yvonne heard was him promising to discover "why it had happened and who did it".

His friend was gunned down policing a demo against former Libyan tyrant Colonel Muammar Gaddafi outside his country's embassy in St James's Square, Central London.

On that fateful day, April 17, 1984, shots were fired from the embassy. No one has ever been held criminally responsible for Yvonne's death.

John is pursuing a private prosecution against Saleh Ibrahim Mabrouk, a senior member of the Libyan Revolutionary Committee running the embassy at the time.

Recalling the tragedy, John, 68, said: "We had our backs to the building so we didn't know what was going on behind us.

"Initially, I thought someone had thrown a firework. I looked to my right and Yvonne fell to the road.

"I went over to her, I put my arm under her head, cradled her head. And I could see the blood on the road and then realised what had happened.