World News 25-11-2003 27 Years For Lockerbie Bomber who: Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi what: Will serve at least 27 years in prison, court rules where: The High Court, GLASGOW when: Yesterday snippet: "The Lockerbie bomber, Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi, must spend at least 27 years in jail for the murder of 270 people before he can be considered for parole," reports The Times. "Al-Megrahi, who was convicted more than two years ago of Britain`s worst peacetime atrocity, was brought to the High Court in Glasgow from his cell in Barlinnie jail amid tight security for yesterday’s short hearing." Al-Megrahi was 48 when he was originally convicted, so he will be in his seventies before he is eligible for parole. He was tried under Scottish law by a special court in the Netherlands and found guilty of blowing up Pan Am Flight 103 on December 21st, 1988; in February 2001 the judge recommended that he serve at least 20 years but under new EU human rights laws, prisoners given life sentences must be told exactly how long they can expect to spend behind bars. The bomber maintains that he is innocent. An appeal last year was unsuccessful but al-Megrahi`s lawyer says there will be more. The Scottish criminal cases review commission is already examining the case and al-Megrahi may appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. "He is looking forward in faith for a new day in court. His mood is one of faith and hope in his legal team and advisers, faith in justice and faith in his religion," says Eddie McKechnie, quoted in The Telegraph. "He will have his day in court, we hope, and then all of us will know what really happened on the 21st December, 1988." [... more]

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