(25 Apr 2000) English/Nat
XFA
Family members of those who died in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 say they are not surprised at the latest problems in the trial of two Libyans accused in the attack.
The Scottish Crown Office said on Tuesday that prosecutors are requesting a postponement in the trial following the introduction of new witnesses by the defence.
Proceedings are scheduled to begin on May 3.
There have already been two delays since Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi surrendered Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi and Lamen Khalifa Fhimah last year.
Victims’ families planned a news conference on Tuesday to mark the imminent beginning of the long awaited trial in the Netherlands of two Libyans accused of bombing Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988.
Instead they found themselves being questioned about another delay.
Prosecutors requested a postponement because the defence has introduced a new witness list.
A Scottish Crown Office spokesman said a special pretrial hearing would be held at the Lockerbie court at Camp Zeist on Thursday, when the court will decide whether or not to grant the postponement.
The trial is due to take place at Camp Zeist, a former U.S. air base 24 miles southeast of Amsterdam.
Rosemary Wolfe, whose stepdaughter died in the crash, had been worrying about further delays in the past few days.
She just wants the prosecution to push ahead with the case.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Now I just hope that the Scottish Prosecution goes with this. I have been sitting on the edge wondering what the Libyans are going to do ten days before the trial to cause another delay, I don’t think this is any surprise and I just hope the prosecution refuses to delay the opening of that trial."
SUPER CAPTION: Rosemary Wolfe, President, "Justice for Pan Am 103"
Stephanie Bernstein who lost her husband in the bombing, says she believes there will be a lot of problems with the extraordinary proceedings.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I believe there is a requirement that this list be shared with the prosecution and probably with the court, I think it is ten days before the beginning of the trial and that had not been done, that’s my understanding. So until I know more I don’t really have much of a reaction, I think there are going to be lots of ups and downs like that."
SUPER CAPTION: Stephanie Bernstein, Widow
The two men, Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi and Lamen Khalifa Fhimah, are charged with the murders of the 270 passengers and residents of Lockerbie, killed when the Boeing 747 exploded over the Scottish town on December 21, 1988.
The explosion killed 259 passengers and crew – including 189 Americans – and 11 people on the ground.
Prosecutors claim the Libyans placed a suitcase bomb on a flight originating in Malta and routed the bomb onto the Pan Am airliner in London via a change of planes in Frankfurt, Germany.
The men, employed by the Libyan national airline in Malta, were allegedly undercover intelligence agents.
Families are pushing to get the U-S government to reveal details contained in an annex letter, that United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan sent to the Libyan leader.
They believe both the British and American governments may have given assurances not to embarrass or purse the government of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
SUPER CAPTION: Stephanie Bernstein, Widow
The request for a delay follows reports of troubles in the prosecution’s case.
The senior lawyer in the prosecution team recently withdrew.
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