Lockerbie bombing appeal: to be or not to be?

After three weeks of legal arguments in the latest stage of Abdelbasset Ali al-Megrahi’s appeal against his conviction in the Lockerbie bombing case, a five-judge Court of Criminal Appeal retired to consider its decision on 20 May 2009.

During the arguments it became public that Libya was seeking the return of Mr Megrahi under a prisoner transfer agreement made with the United Kingdom.  Under this Mr Megrahi would serve the remainder of his sentence in Libya.  But the Scottish Government at least was clear that before any transfer could take place Mr Megrahi would have to abandon his appeal.

None of this was referred to during the appeal arguments, judgement on which is expected in July.  Meantime it appears that Mr Megrahi’s health continues to deteriorate as a result of his prostate cancer.