UK/Libya

Lockerbie bomber drops conviction appeal

Article published on the 2009-08-14 Latest update 2009-08-14 14:25 TU

A couple at the main headstone in the Lockerbie memorial garden, in south west Scotland, on Thursday.
(Photo: Reuters)

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi is abandoning his appeal against conviction for the Lockerbie bombing, following reports he is set to be freed on compassionate grounds.

The application abandoning the appeal was made two days ago to the High Court in Edinburgh, Megrahi’s lawyers say. It still has to be approved by the court, with a hearing to take place on Tuesday, the Scottish Courts Service said.

Megrahi was jailed for 27 years for his alleged part in the 1988 plane bombing which cost 270 lives. He has always protested his innocence.

British media reported earlier this week that Megrahi could be set free on compassionate grounds next week. Officials say no decision has yet been taken.

Libya has applied for Megrahi to be transferred to serve his sentence in a prison in his homeland, and dropping the appeal could pave the way for this to take place.

"There cannot be an application under the prisoner transfer agreement where there are ongoing (legal) procedures," a Scottish government spokesperson said, adding that an ongoing appeal had "no bearing" on his application for compassionate release.

The move to drop the appeal has dismayed those who believe Megrahi, 57, was wrongly convicted, and that there are more facts which need to emerge in the case.

Professor Robert Black, one of the architects of Megrahi's trial in the Netherlands, told Scotland's Herald newspaper: "I just don't understand why he is dropping the appeal now. If the appeal is to be dropped, then the next step is to press for a public inquiry ... this is really the only avenue available for people to get questions and issues into the public domain."