In today's Scottish Sunday Express there is an article by Ben Borland headlined "Lockerbie bomber to be freed". It tells of my speculation that Abdelbaset Megrahi could soon be freed because, if it is held that the mysterious document that the UK Government insists should not be disclosed, cannot be divulged to the defence, the Lord Advocate (who has said that, if it were up to her, the document would be handed over) might decide that the Crown could not, in conscience, proceed with opposing an appeal that would not, in the circumstances, be seen to be fair to Megrahi. The Sunday Express story in places hardens what was simply speculation on my part into something approaching fact. The article reads:
‘THE Lockerbie bomber is set to be sensationally freed on a “technicality” because of a controversial legal stalemate involving top secret documents.
Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, 56, could even be released before the end of summer because of Westmin-ster’s refusal to make public the papers relating to the 1988 disaster.
Professor Robert Black – who helped orchestrate the Lockerbie trial – insists the Libyan, currently serving life in Greenock Prison, will be returned to his family long before the 20th anniversary of the disaster in December this year.
Scotland’s top judges are still deciding whether or not to release the secret document, which reportedly points the finger of blame at Iran for the atrocity that killed 270 people.
Earlier this year, Foreign Secretary David Miliband signed a Public Interest Immunity certificate to prevent its content being revealed, saying it could harm the national interest.
Speculation is now growing the judges will rule it should remain classified, forcing Lord Advocate Eilish Angiolini to free Megrahi because he
cannot have a fair appeal.
It would also avoid the need to hear any new evidence that may prove there was a miscarriage of justice or even a deliberate cover-up by the US and UK authorities.
Prof Black told the Sunday Express: “If the court says this document can’t be released in the normal way to the defence, then it is distinctly possible the Lord Advocate will say, if it cannot be seen that this appeal process is fair and open, it is better to say we will no longer oppose this appeal. Not because we believe Mr Megrahi is innocent, but because the appeal cannot be seen to be fair.”
The retired law professor added that such a “cynical” outcome would also avoid any renewed calls for a public inquiry.
The document is reportedly a German intelligence debriefing of an Iranian defector, who claimed Tehran paid a Palestinian terror cell to carry out the bombing, after the US accidentally shot down an Iranian passenger jet, in 1988.
Dr Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora was killed in the attack, yesterday said a full hearing would expose the “appalling collusion” of Britain and America.
He added: “There may be an attempt to remove the awkward problem of Megrahi by allowing him to return home and to remove the possibility of a public examination of the evidence.”
Such a move would be “a bit of a downer” to those still seeking the truth, Dr Swire added.'
I get rather tired of the allegations of the "collusion" of the United States and the UK in regard to the "framing up" of Megrahi and Libya. It has been nearly 20 years and I am not aware nor has anyone ever shown me any evidence of this. I believe it would be a miscarriage of justice to free Mr. Megrahi and would welcome an airing of the "facts."
ReplyDeleteWell, one fact might be that Mr. Miliband is unwilling to reelease those alleged "top secret" documents the SCCRC refers to.
ReplyDeleteBo Adam
It is interesting that it is now Iran that is to be framed with probably fake evidence. The real evidence that should be heard in court concerns alleged CIA drug smuggling on PanAm 103. Reportedly, Major Charles McKee and his DIA team had collected evidence of CIA drug smuggling (from Lebanon into the USA with the help of Monzar al Kassar) and they were killed on PanAm 103 to silence them and destroy the evidence. The alleged bomb maker Mr Kreeshat reportedly worked for the CIA. The Sunday Herald, Scotland on Sunday and the BBC have referred to alleged CIA drug smuggling on PanAm 103.
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