Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi’s family to launch bid to clear his name
His relatives are set to hand files to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission in the hope of lodging an appeal
LOCKERBIE bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi's family will this week launch a bid to clear the Libyan's name.
They will hand files to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission in the hope of lodging an appeal.
Their lawyer Aamer Anwar last night confirmed the move after meeting his widow Aisha and son Ali for talks in Zurich, Switzerland, to hammer out the details.
It is believed they will present serious concerns over the evidence which convicted him, including that given by Maltese shopkeeper Tony Gauci, now dead.
Dr Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora, 23, perished in the horror, is among those who back the family's appeal.
Megrahi was convicted in 2001 of the 1988 atrocity which saw 270 people die when a bomb planted on Pan Am flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire.
MOST READ IN NEWS
He was jailed for 27 years but died of prostate cancer aged 60 in 2012 after being allowed to leave Greenock nick for his home city of Tripoli.
Then-Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill allowed him out on compassionate grounds. Megrahi's family want to question him on why he approved the release.
The appeal bid comes after Megrahi's first appeal bid failed in March 2002 at a special court in the Netherlands.
Two years ago, Scots prosecutors revealed they wanted to quiz two Libyans as suspects.
The Commission will refer the case to the Appeal Court if it agrees there are grounds. But any bid to clear Megrahi's name will likely take months due to the complex legal process.
We pay for your stories and videos! Do you have a story or video for The Scottish Sun Online? Email us at [email protected] or call 0141 420 5266