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Lockerbie families fight for appeal at High Court in Edinburgh Lockerbie families fight for appeal at High Court in Edinburgh
(about 3 hours later)
The High Court in Edinburgh is to hear legal arguments from relatives of some of the Lockerbie bombing victims.The High Court in Edinburgh is to hear legal arguments from relatives of some of the Lockerbie bombing victims.
The families want to pursue a miscarriage of justice appeal on behalf of relatives of the man convicted of the bombing, Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi.The families want to pursue a miscarriage of justice appeal on behalf of relatives of the man convicted of the bombing, Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi.
He died of cancer in May 2012.He died of cancer in May 2012.
The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission has asked the high court to establish if the families of the victims can be classed as persons with a legitimate interest.The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission has asked the high court to establish if the families of the victims can be classed as persons with a legitimate interest.
The lawyer acting for some of the British families of those who died has said they maintain that they have as much a right to pursue an appeal as the Megrahi family because they also believe the wrong person was convicted.The lawyer acting for some of the British families of those who died has said they maintain that they have as much a right to pursue an appeal as the Megrahi family because they also believe the wrong person was convicted.
In December, Scotland's top prosecutor reaffirmed his belief that Megrahi was guilty of killing 270 people in the bombing.In December, Scotland's top prosecutor reaffirmed his belief that Megrahi was guilty of killing 270 people in the bombing.
Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland said no Crown Office investigator or prosecutor had ever raised concerns about the evidence used to convict Megrahi.Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland said no Crown Office investigator or prosecutor had ever raised concerns about the evidence used to convict Megrahi.
Megrahi's part in the bombing has been called into question in a series of books and documentaries.Megrahi's part in the bombing has been called into question in a series of books and documentaries.
And a petition seeking "Justice For Megrahi", backed by politicians and family members of some victims, remains on the Scottish Parliament's books. Analysis by Glenn Campbell, BBC Scotland correspondent
A posthumous appeal against conviction is possible if it's deemed to be in the "interests of justice".
But there's another test. The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC) must be satisfied that those seeking an appeal have a "legitimate interest" in the case.
Members of the Megrahi family would be expected to qualify and on paper they are backing this attempt to force a re-examination of the evidence.
But the SCCRC has become convinced that the application is only "actively supported" by Dr Jim Swire and other UK victims' relatives.
Never before has a murder conviction been appealed in these circumstances.
A judge is being asked to decide if victims' relatives have the right to seek to clear the name of the only man found guilty of killing their loved ones.
Dr Swire has argued that there's "no doubt" relatives are valid applicants.
But US victims' families have made clear they do not support a fresh appeal and have accused Dr Swire of pursuing a "disgraceful" campaign.
A petition seeking "Justice For Megrahi", backed by politicians and family members of some victims, remains on the Scottish Parliament's books.
Supporters of Megrahi, who was said by the FBI to have been a Libyan intelligence officer, have claimed that Scottish prosecutors ignored evidence that the bomb was put on board the flight at Heathrow rather than in Malta.Supporters of Megrahi, who was said by the FBI to have been a Libyan intelligence officer, have claimed that Scottish prosecutors ignored evidence that the bomb was put on board the flight at Heathrow rather than in Malta.
They have also alleged Libya was "framed" over the bombing, and that a fragment of the bomb's timer was either planted or manipulated to implicate the North African country and to turn attention away from Syria and Iran.They have also alleged Libya was "framed" over the bombing, and that a fragment of the bomb's timer was either planted or manipulated to implicate the North African country and to turn attention away from Syria and Iran.
The Pan Am flight exploded at 31,000ft over Lockerbie, in the south of Scotland, on 21 December 1988.The Pan Am flight exploded at 31,000ft over Lockerbie, in the south of Scotland, on 21 December 1988.
As well as 259 people on board the aircraft, 11 residents of Lockerbie died on the ground as a result of a giant fireball caused when a wing holding thousands of gallons of fuel exploded on impact.As well as 259 people on board the aircraft, 11 residents of Lockerbie died on the ground as a result of a giant fireball caused when a wing holding thousands of gallons of fuel exploded on impact.
The Scottish government released Megrahi on compassionate grounds in August 2009 after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given six months to live.The Scottish government released Megrahi on compassionate grounds in August 2009 after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given six months to live.
He returned to Libya, where he died in May 2012, still protesting his innocence.He returned to Libya, where he died in May 2012, still protesting his innocence.