Lockerbie bomber conviction appeal refused

An appeal over the Lockerbie bomber's conviction has been refused.

Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was the only man found guilty of the atrocity on December 21st 1988. The bombing of Pan Am flight 103, travelling from London to New York, killed 270 people.

Alleged former Libyan intelligence officer Megrahi was convicted in 2001 of mass murder and jailed for life with a minimum term of 27 years.

His first appeal against his conviction was refused by the High Court in 2002 and was referred back five years later following a review.

He abandoned the second appeal in 2009, shortly before his release from prison on compassionate grounds while terminally ill with cancer. He died in 2012 after returning to Libya.

A third, posthumous appeal was lodged early last year by his son, Ali Al-Megrahi and with the support of some family members of the victims.

But the Scottish appeal judges ruled that the content of new documents would have made no difference to the defence’s preparation or presentation of their case; or to the original verdict reached by the Court.

Megrahi's family are said to be heart broken by the decision of the Scottish courts. His son maintains his father’s innocence and is determined to fulfil the promise he made to clear his name and that of Libya.

A statement issued by Megrahi's lawyer, Aamer Anwar, says: "As of this morning the Megrahi family have instructed our legal team to appeal to the UK Supreme Court, meaning we will lodge an application within 14 days.

"The family demand the release of secret evidence held by the UK Government, which they believe incriminates others such as Iran and the Syrian-Palestinian group, the Foreign Secretary had refused to do so. This must happen for the truth to emerge.

"All the Megrahi family want for Scotland is peace and justice, but as Ali stated today their journey is not over, Libya has suffered enough, as has family for the crime of Lockerbie, they remain determined to fight for justice.

"They are grateful to their legal team for their unwavering commitment and also to the British families for their compassion and search for justice.

"Ali said God willing, he will visit his father's grave one day to tell him that justice was done and that he fulfilled his promise to clear his name and that of Libya."

The Lord Advocate said: "For 32 years the families of the 270 people murdered on the night of 21 December 1988 have shown dignity in the face of the loss they have suffered. Our thoughts are with them again today.

"The bombing of Pan Am 103 is, to this day, the deadliest terrorist attack on UK soil and the largest homicide case Scotland's prosecutors have ever encountered in terms of scale and of complexity.

"The evidence gathered by Scottish, US and international law enforcement agencies has again been tested in the Appeal Court; and the conviction of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi stands.

"After Megrahi was convicted in 2001 my predecessor as Lord Advocate, Lord Boyd of Duncansby, confirmed to the Scottish Parliament that the investigation into the involvement of others in this terrible crime would continue. I reiterate that commitment today.

"For almost 20 years since that date Scottish police and prosecutors have continued the search for evidence. This work will continue; and there remain suspects under active investigation."

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