A U.S. judge has delayed the trial of Abu Agila Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi, accused of building the bomb that destroyed Pan Am Flight 103, originally set for May 12. The postponement is to allow further preparation time due to the case’s complexity. A major pre-trial concern involves a confession allegedly made by Masud while in prison.
A U.S. judge has agreed to postpone the trial of Abu Agila Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi, a Libyan man accused of constructing the bomb that destroyed Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie over three decades ago. Originally scheduled to commence on May 12 in Washington, the trial’s start has been delayed upon request from both prosecution and defense. Negotiations for a new trial date are ongoing.
Masud, who is in his early 70s and holds dual citizenship in Libya and Tunisia, denies responsibility for the bombing that killed 259 passengers and crew on December 21, 1988, along with 11 victims on the ground. He is currently receiving treatment for a non-life-threatening medical condition.
U.S. federal prosecutors cited the intricate nature of the case and the substantial time required for adequate pre-trial preparations. The defense emphasized the significance of a large amount of discovery material, including evidence from abroad, that necessitates careful examination for proper defense strategy.
Following the recommendation of U.S. District Court Judge Dabney Friedrich, the trial set for May 12 has been delayed. A status conference is scheduled for next month where further details will be addressed.
Masud was identified as a suspect in 2015, revitalized by the fall of the Gaddafi regime in Libya, and was formally charged in 2020 by former U.S. Attorney General William Barr. He was apprehended by an armed militia in 2022 and transferred to the U.S. judicial system.
A critical pre-trial concern involves the potential admission of a confession Masud allegedly made in a Libyan prison in 2012, where he purportedly stated his affiliation with Libyan intelligence and admitted to constructing the explosive device. This claim involves two Libyan accomplices who previously faced trial related to the Lockerbie case in a special Scottish court in 2001. Abdelbasset Al Megrahi was found guilty of murder in 2001 while his co-defendant, Al Amin Khalifah Fhimah, was acquitted. Megrahi passed away in 2012 after being released on compassionate grounds by Scottish authorities.
The trial of Abu Agila Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi, accused of building the bomb that destroyed Pan Am Flight 103, has been postponed to allow more preparation time for both the prosecution and defense due to the case’s complexity. Key aspects include the potential inclusion of a confession and ongoing discussions regarding a new trial date. This case continues to draw significant legal scrutiny and public interest as it revives memories of the Lockerbie disaster.
Original Source: www.bbc.co.uk
