Lockerbie bombing megrahi appeal bid allowed

A significant development in a long-running case!

On March 20, 2020, the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC) announced that it has allowed an appeal bid by Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al-Megrahi, the Libyan intelligence officer convicted of the Lockerbie bombing in 2001. The SCCRC has referred the case back to the High Court of Justiciary in Edinburgh, Scotland, for a fresh appeal.

The Lockerbie bombing occurred on December 21, 1988, when Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 270 people, including 189 Americans. Al-Megrahi was convicted of the bombing in 2001 and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was released from prison in 2009 on compassionate grounds due to his terminal cancer diagnosis.

The SCCRC's decision to allow the appeal bid is based on new evidence that has come to light, which raises concerns about the fairness and reliability of the original trial. The commission has identified several potential miscarriages of justice, including:

  1. New forensic evidence: The SCCRC has identified new forensic evidence that was not available at the time of the original trial, which could potentially exonerate Al-Megrahi.
  2. Witness statements: The commission has raised concerns about the credibility of key witnesses who testified against Al-Megrahi, including a witness who later recanted their statement.
  3. Prosecution's case: The SCCRC has questioned the strength of the prosecution's case against Al-Megrahi, citing inconsistencies and contradictions in the evidence presented.

The SCCRC's decision to allow the appeal bid is a significant development in the case, and it is likely to lead to a fresh appeal hearing in the High Court of Justiciary. The outcome of the appeal is uncertain, and it remains to be seen whether Al-Megrahi's conviction will be overturned or upheld.

This development has significant implications for the families of the Lockerbie bombing victims, who have been seeking justice and closure for over three decades. The case has also sparked renewed debate about the fairness and reliability of the Scottish criminal justice system.