Mandela backs decision to free Megrahi Jim Swire, the father of a women killed in the bombing, has also given his support and insisted that the world should stop “mulling over” Megrahi’s release. Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has been under intense pressure following the release of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds. But today a Scottish Government spokesman confirmed it had received a letter from the former South African president expressing his support for the move. In June 2002 Mr Mandela visited Megrahi in Glasgow’s Barlinnie Prison. In the letter to the Scottish Government Professor Jake Gerwel, the chairperson the Mandela Foundation, said: “Mr Mandela sincerely appreciates the decision to release Mr al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds.”
THE family of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi – the only man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing – is said to be “heartbroken” after Scottish judges dismissed his posthumous appeal against conviction. However, they have instructed their lawyer Aamer Anwar to pursue an appeal to the UK Supreme Court, and are demanding the release of secret evidence held by the UK Government, which they believe incriminates others. Five judges sitting as the Court of Criminal Appeal had been asked to accept that no reasonable jury, properly directed, could have convicted Megrahi on the evidence led, particularly that of Maltese shopkeeper Tony Gauci. He said Megrahi had bought clothes from him that were planted in a suitcase containing the bomb that brought down Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie on December 21, 1988, killing 270 people.
The family of the only man convicted of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing is to take its case to the UK Supreme Court after the latest attempt to clear his name was rejected.Abdul Baset al-Megrahi, a former
Al-Megrahi family devastated as Lockerbie appeal court judges uphold conviction
The family of the late Abdelbaset al-Megrahi said they are heartbroken and plan to appeal to the UK Supreme Court
Updated
Appeal judges rejected a bid by Megrahi s family to clear his name following his death in 2012
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