A U.S. judge has postponed the trial of Libyan Abu Agila Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi, accused of constructing the bomb that destroyed Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988. The trial, originally set to begin on May 12, has been delayed at the request of both parties for further preparations due to evidentiary complexities. A status conference is scheduled for next month to address the trial’s future.
A United States judge has agreed to postpone the trial of Abu Agila Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi, a Libyan national accused of constructing the bomb that destroyed Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie in 1988. Initially scheduled to commence in Washington on May 12, the trial delay was granted following requests from both the prosecution and the defense. Discussions regarding a new trial date are currently underway.
Masud, who is in his early 70s and holds dual citizenship in Libya and Tunisia, has denied involvement in the bombing that resulted in the tragic loss of 259 lives, as well as 11 individuals on the ground due to falling debris. He is reportedly receiving treatment for a non-life-threatening medical condition.
Prosecutors indicated that the case’s complexity necessitated additional time for adequate pre-trial preparation. They emphasized the substantial amount of evidence, including materials stored in foreign locations, which the defense must review thoroughly to strategize accordingly. U.S. District Court Judge Dabney Friedrich sanctioned the postponement, with a status conference scheduled for next month.
Masud was identified as a suspect in this matter by Scottish and U.S. authorities in 2015, following the end of the Gaddafi regime. In 2020, then U.S. Attorney General William Barr announced charges against him for the destruction of an aircraft causing fatalities. Masud was taken into U.S. custody in 2022 after being captured by an armed militia in Tripoli.
A significant pre-trial concern pertains to a confession attributed to Masud, reportedly made while incarcerated in Libya in 2012. The FBI claims he confessed to working for the Libyan intelligence service, admitting to constructing the bomb. He allegedly implicated two accomplices, both of whom previously stood trial in connection with the Lockerbie incident, leading to the conviction of Abdelbasset Al Megrahi, while Al Amin Khalifah Fhimah was acquitted. Al Megrahi passed away in 2012 after receiving compassionate release from imprisonment by the Scottish government.
In conclusion, the trial of Abu Agila Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi, associated with the Lockerbie bombing, has been delayed to allow time for comprehensive preparation due to the complexities surrounding the case. Masud, who denies the charges, faces critical issues regarding the admissibility of his alleged confession and the involvement of other Libyan nationals. The legal proceedings continue to evolve as preparations are made for the trial.
Original Source: www.bbc.co.uk
