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New appeal for Lockerbie bomber Lockerbie bomber's appeal begins
(about 8 hours later)
The Libyan convicted of the Lockerbie bombing is to begin a second appeal against his conviction for blowing up a Pan Am flight 21 years ago. Five judges have begun hearing the second appeal by the Lockerbie bomber against his conviction.
Lawyers for Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, who has prostate cancer, said judges at his trial heard insufficient evidence to convict him beyond reasonable doubt. Abdelbasset Ali al-Megrahi, 57, who is being treated for prostate cancer, is not in court but can follow proceedings via live video link to Greenock Prison.
Megrahi, 57, will not be present at the appeal in Edinburgh, which is expected to last at least four weeks. His QC, Maggie Scott told the Appeal Court in Edinburgh no reasonable jury, properly directed, could have convicted him beyond all reasonable doubt.
The appeal hearing is expected to last at least four weeks.
A total of 270 people died when the plane exploded over Lockerbie in 1988.A total of 270 people died when the plane exploded over Lockerbie in 1988.
They included 11 people on the ground as wreckage from Pan Am Flight 103, which had been heading from London to New York, fell from the sky.They included 11 people on the ground as wreckage from Pan Am Flight 103, which had been heading from London to New York, fell from the sky.
Megrahi has already lost one appeal, which was heard in a special Scottish Court in the Netherlands a year after his conviction in January 2001.Megrahi has already lost one appeal, which was heard in a special Scottish Court in the Netherlands a year after his conviction in January 2001.
Since then he has been in prison in Scotland, and must remain in jail until at least 2026.Since then he has been in prison in Scotland, and must remain in jail until at least 2026.
In 2007, after a four-year investigation, a second appeal was ordered by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission, which said his conviction "may be unsafe".In 2007, after a four-year investigation, a second appeal was ordered by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission, which said his conviction "may be unsafe".
Currently he is held in Greenock Prison, where he was diagnosed as suffering from terminal prostate cancer.Currently he is held in Greenock Prison, where he was diagnosed as suffering from terminal prostate cancer.
In October, 2008 appeal court judges rejected his plea to be released from jail on compassionate grounds.In October, 2008 appeal court judges rejected his plea to be released from jail on compassionate grounds.
APPEAL TIMELINE January 2001: Megrahi convictedMarch 2002: Appeal rejectedJune 2007 "Conviction unsafe"October 2008: Cancer diagnosedAPPEAL TIMELINE January 2001: Megrahi convictedMarch 2002: Appeal rejectedJune 2007 "Conviction unsafe"October 2008: Cancer diagnosed
Megrahi's legal team argue the three judges who presided over his trial at Kamp van Zeist near Utrecht were presented with insufficient evidence to be able to find him guilty.Megrahi's legal team argue the three judges who presided over his trial at Kamp van Zeist near Utrecht were presented with insufficient evidence to be able to find him guilty.
They will also say evidence brought forward by the Crown at the trial was rejected by the judges - even though it was crucial to cast doubt on the prosecution case.They will also say evidence brought forward by the Crown at the trial was rejected by the judges - even though it was crucial to cast doubt on the prosecution case.
The second appeal will be heard by five judges, headed by Scotland's senior judge, the Lord Justice General, Lord Hamilton.The second appeal will be heard by five judges, headed by Scotland's senior judge, the Lord Justice General, Lord Hamilton.
If Megrahi is unsuccessful in this stage of the appeal process, further grounds will be brought forward.If Megrahi is unsuccessful in this stage of the appeal process, further grounds will be brought forward.
These will cast doubt on vital prosecution witnesses, in particular, a Maltese shopkeeper, Tony Gauci, who identified Megrahi as a man who bought clothes in which the bomb was said to have been wrapped.These will cast doubt on vital prosecution witnesses, in particular, a Maltese shopkeeper, Tony Gauci, who identified Megrahi as a man who bought clothes in which the bomb was said to have been wrapped.
Defence lawyers will bring forward new evidence about the fragment of circuit board from the bomb timer, which was a crucial part of the prosecution case.Defence lawyers will bring forward new evidence about the fragment of circuit board from the bomb timer, which was a crucial part of the prosecution case.
And they will also argue documents sent to the UK government by a foreign power - and seen by prosecutors - were not revealed to Megrahi's lawyers.And they will also argue documents sent to the UK government by a foreign power - and seen by prosecutors - were not revealed to Megrahi's lawyers.
The foreign secretary has tried to keep the documents secret and a security-cleared special advocate has been appointed to represent Megrahi's interests in arguments about whether they should be revealed.The foreign secretary has tried to keep the documents secret and a security-cleared special advocate has been appointed to represent Megrahi's interests in arguments about whether they should be revealed.