Lockerbie 'Bomber' given ultimatum:

[Robert]

... if you ever want to see your family again, give up your appeal to clear your name.

From the Herald:

The man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing was faced with the dilemma yesterday of choosing between proving his innocence or being sent home to die in Libya.

The Scottish government announced the country's authorities have applied for the transfer of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi, a statement that confirmed the so-called "deal in the desert" struck during former Prime Minister Tony Blair's visit to Colonel Gaddaffi in 2007.

Megrahi, 57, who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, is currently in Greenock prison serving a minimum of 27 years for the 1988 atrocity in which 270 people died.

His second appeal against conviction began at the Appeal Court in Edinburgh last week, but this must be dropped if his transfer is to take place. It was confirmed yesterday that although the prisoner transfer application could be made with that appeal outstanding, proceedings will have to be dropped if a decision is to be made.

Dr Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora died on Pan Am flight 103 that crashed over Lockerbie, welcomed the development, saying: "I am not opposed to this, simply because I don't believe the man is guilty and I don't think he should be in prison."

The timing is obviously a coincidence, eh? :roll:

 

[metalman]

... if you ever want to see your family again, give up your appeal to clear your name.

The timing is obviously a coincidence, eh? :roll:

Post hoc ergo propter hoc.

 

[Robert]

Post hoc ergo propter hoc.

How so? Have you been following this travesty of justice?

 

[Robert]

Surprise, surprise, surprise.....

The Libyan convicted of the Lockerbie bombing has formally dropped his second appeal against his conviction for the attack that killed 270 people.

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, who is serving a 27-year sentence in HMP Greenock, applied to abandon the appeal last week - a procedure that was accepted yesterday by three judges at the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh.

Megrahi's defence team revealed that he made the decision to drop the case because he believed it would speed up the decision to allow him to return to Libya.

(Also from The Herald.)

Looks like we'll never find out what really happened.

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

They really are quite eager to prevent this case from being reopened, aren't they.

 

[Robert]

They really are quite eager to prevent this case from being reopened, aren't they.

Alarmingly so.

 

[Glaucus]

But if they wanted his story silenced, wouldn't it have been best to just deny or postpone his appeal for about three months - which btw is his life expectancy thanks to cancer?

 

[Robert]

But if they wanted his story silenced, wouldn't it have been best to just deny or postpone his appeal for about three months - which btw is his life expectancy thanks to cancer?

It's not so much *his* story that they don't want to come out. He most likely knows verry little, if anything about what really happened.

And even it that were the case, his appeal could have continued after his death, had he not dropped it.

 

[Glaucus]

And even it that were the case, his appeal could have continued after his death, had he not dropped it.

It seems to me that freedom was more important to him then clearing his name.

And what is the big secret?

 

[Robert]

And even it that were the case, his appeal could have continued after his death, had he not dropped it.

It seems to me that freedom was more important to him then clearing his name.

I'm not sure I get your point. If you only have a few months to live and are given the ultimatum he was, what do you do?

In his own words:

"I had to endure a verdict being issued at the conclusion of that trial
which is now characterised by my lawyers, and the Scottish Criminal
Cases Review Commission, as unreasonable. To me, and to other right
thinking people back at home in Libya, and in the international
community, it is nothing short of a disgrace.

"This horrible ordeal is not ended by my return to Libya. It may never
end for me until I die. Perhaps the only liberation for me will be
death. And I say in the clearest possible terms, which I hope every
person in every land will hear: all of this I have had to endure for
something that I did not do.

"The remaining days of my life are being lived under the shadow of the
wrongness of my conviction. I have been faced with an appalling choice:
to risk dying in prison in the hope that my name is cleared posthumously
or to return home still carrying the weight of the guilty verdict, which
will never now be lifted.

"The choice which I made is a matter of sorrow, disappointment and
anger, which I fear I will never overcome. I say goodbye to Scotland and
shall not return. My time here has been very unhappy and I do not leave
a piece of myself.

"But to the country's people I offer my gratitude and best wishes."

 

[Glaucus]

And even it that were the case, his appeal could have continued after his death, had he not dropped it.

It seems to me that freedom was more important to him then clearing his name.

I'm not sure I get your point. If you only have a few months to live and are given the ultimatum he was, what do you do?

I'd probably do the same. I was just stating the obvious there, but it is quite the dilemma.

 

[Robert]

Oh, I getcha.

As for the big secret, like I said, we'll never know but there is little doubt that both the UK and US governments have something to hide.

A couple of points of interest:
Iran Air FLIGHT 665 June 1988, 290 civilians dead, blown out of the sky by USS Vincennes (Captain later awarded Legion of Merit). Iran vows revenge.

$10 million was apparently paid to a Palestinian group by the Iranians in December, 1988.

Libya only became a suspect after it became clear the US wanted Iranian and Syrian (both originally suspects) cooperation for Gulf War 1.

UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband has imposed a public interest immunity
certificate (PIIC) on the Lockerbie papers.


There's a lot more than the above but I'm sure you can already see why some have their doubts.

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

Ain't nothing but a coincidence. Now shut up and watch your TV.

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

Oh, I getcha.

There's a lot more than the above but I'm sure you can already see why some have their doubts.

Don't forget the CIA dudes that were on board who were on their way to rat out Ollie North and his gang.

 

[Robert]

Don't forget the CIA dudes...

Like I said, lots more: Mysterious timers; paid-off, vanishing witness, covered-up airport break-in, etc, etc, etc, ad-nauseum.

 

[Fade]

Clearly, as shown by this Scottish government, they are not ready to be an independent nation loosed upon an unsuspecting world.

Whether they were enticed by Brown's lust for trade deals, or they thought this was actually a compassionate move, in this case the needs of the many (the victims families) surely outweighed the needs of the one (the terrorist.)

Explain it to a six year old, they will give you the correct answer!

 

[Robert]

You best get boycotting right away then, Fade.

And you might want to have a wee word with Mr. McCain while you're at it.

And your governments, past and present (since 1988) who are all perfectly happy with the decision.

They all know it was a stitch up and are delighted his appeal has been dropped.

As for asking a six year old, ask any Scottish six year old and I'm sure you'll get a very different answer to an American six year old. Freeing dying prisoners is a long established part of Scots law that even most children are aware of. Your ignorance of this is your own concern. Executing prisoners is something your country does.

If Megrahi had been tried in your country an innocent man (another one?) would probably have been murdered in revenge for something he didn't do.

And you would have cheered.

Furthermore, a nation which freed a convicted, mass-murderer, Lt. William Calley, after only three and a half years of house arrest, with *no* medical reason, is in no position to lecture Scotland.

Your childish hypocracy is all too expected, however.

 

[faethor]

You best get boycotting right away then, Fade.

I talked to Fade and he's selling all his Nazareth records.

As for asking a six year old, ask any Scottish six year old and I'm sure you'll get a very different answer to an American six year old. Freeing dying prisoners is a long established part of Scots law that even most children are aware of. Your ignorance of this is your own concern. Executing prisoners is something your country does.

Even in America the end of life for prisioners is loosening to a degree. Frequently, not always, many more family visits have been given.

I find it amazing Scotland didn't kill the terrorist and yet more bombings such as this didn't occur. The Right Wing in the USA have told us how scared we have to be of these people. Certainly if Scotland didn't kill the terrorist and invade a random nation with nothing to do with it they can't possibly be safe. There are many many more things in life that will kill us other than a terrorist. But, we have to borrow money and invade 2 countries, change conditions within our own country, and put up the smoke to sell that this will never happen again. Live in fear people.... Live in fear...