A U.S. judge has delayed the trial of Abu Agila Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi, the Libyan accused of the Lockerbie bombing, originally set for May 12. The postponement follows requests from both parties for adequate case preparation. Key issues ahead include the admissibility of a confession and the defense’s need to address substantial evidence from various nations.
A United States 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, Scotland, more than 36 years ago. Originally scheduled to commence on May 12 in Washington, the trial has been delayed at the request of both the prosecution and defense, with no new date set yet as discussions continue.
Masud has consistently denied his involvement in the bombing, which occurred on December 21, 1988, resulting in the tragic loss of 259 lives aboard the Boeing 747 and an additional 11 fatalities on the ground due to falling debris. The alleged perpetrator, now in his early 70s, is a dual citizen of Libya and Tunisia and is currently receiving treatment for a non-life-threatening medical condition.
Prosecutors noted the complexity of the case and the preparation time needed for pre-trial hearings. In court documents, the defense highlighted the extensive amount of discovery, including evidence from other countries, necessary for crafting a robust defense for Masud. Consequently, U.S. District Court Judge Dabney Friedrich consented to the postponement of the trial.
The next court status conference is scheduled for next month. Masud was first named a suspect in 2015 when the collapse of the Gaddafi regime in Libya revitalized the Lockerbie investigation. In 2020, then-U.S. Attorney General William Barr announced formal charges against Masud for the airplane destruction. He was taken into U.S. custody in 2022 after being apprehended from his Tripoli residence by an armed militia.
A pivotal pre-trial matter will likely be the admissibility of an alleged confession made by Masud in a Libyan prison in 2012. According to FBI reports, he confessed to working for the Libyan intelligence service and claimed responsibility for constructing the explosive device. He reportedly identified two Libyan accomplices linked to a previous trial for Lockerbie, where Abdelbasset Al Megrahi was convicted, while Al Amin Khalifah Fhimah was acquitted. Al Megrahi passed away in Tripoli in 2012 after his release on compassionate grounds by Scottish authorities.
The trial of Abu Agila Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi, accused of the Lockerbie bombing, has been postponed to allow for adequate preparation by both the defense and prosecution. Although no new date has been set, upcoming court proceedings will focus on complex issues, including the admissibility of alleged confessions and extensive international evidence. The case continues to draw significant attention as it revisits a tragedy that claimed hundreds of lives over three decades ago.
Original Source: www.bbc.co.uk
