Relatives want appeal to go ahead
13 Oct 05
Lockerbie bombing victim's father to write to SCCRC
Relatives of the victims of the Lockerbie bombing are pushing for an appeal by the convicted bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi to go ahead, according to an article in today's Herald.
The Herald had previously revealed that talks were going on to move the Libyan prisoner from Scotland to a prison in Libya or a neighbouring country. This move would tie in with the Libyan demands following the country's offer to pay compensation to the families of the 270 Lockerbie victims killed in 1988.
Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora was one of the victims, is to write to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC) to ask that it goes ahead with an investigation into whether a fresh appeal into the case is necessary, even if Megrahi is no longer in the country.
The article adds that the Commission is expected to refer the case back to the appeal court next year because of new evidence that is said to undermine the conviction. The Commission can consider any application and any other representations made to it. An application can even be pursued in the absence of the prisoner.
In a letter to the Herald, Mr Swire said his group had always wanted truth and justice and that he felt the evidence heard at the court at Camp van Zeist where Megrahi was tried had not proved his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.