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Minister visits Lockerbie bomber | Minister visits Lockerbie bomber |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Scotland's justice secretary is to visit the Lockerbie bomber later amid speculation he might be moved to Libya. | Scotland's justice secretary is to visit the Lockerbie bomber later amid speculation he might be moved to Libya. |
Kenny MacAskill will meet Abdelbasset Ali al-Megrahi in Greenock Prison as he considers a transfer request from the Libyan government. | Kenny MacAskill will meet Abdelbasset Ali al-Megrahi in Greenock Prison as he considers a transfer request from the Libyan government. |
The minister has already heard the views of others, including relatives of some of the 270 victims of the December 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. | The minister has already heard the views of others, including relatives of some of the 270 victims of the December 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. |
Terminally-ill Megrahi has also asked to be freed on compassionate grounds. | Terminally-ill Megrahi has also asked to be freed on compassionate grounds. |
The transfer request was made by Libya to the UK government last May, less than a week after a treaty allowing prisoners to be transferred between the two countries was ratified. | |
Missed deadline | Missed deadline |
Under the agreement the country holding a prisoner should give its answer within 90 days. | Under the agreement the country holding a prisoner should give its answer within 90 days. |
Decisions about prisoners are the responsibility of the Scottish Government, in effect giving Mr MacAskill the final say. | Decisions about prisoners are the responsibility of the Scottish Government, in effect giving Mr MacAskill the final say. |
Mr MacAskill said last week he would miss the 90-day deadline, which expired on 3 August, because he was waiting for more information. | Mr MacAskill said last week he would miss the 90-day deadline, which expired on 3 August, because he was waiting for more information. |
No transfer can take place if criminal proceedings are active, meaning Megrahi would have to drop his latest appeal against his conviction in order to be sent home. | No transfer can take place if criminal proceedings are active, meaning Megrahi would have to drop his latest appeal against his conviction in order to be sent home. |
He was ordered to remain in prison for a minimum of 27 years having been found guilty of murdering 270 people in the bombing of Pan-Am Flight 103. | He was ordered to remain in prison for a minimum of 27 years having been found guilty of murdering 270 people in the bombing of Pan-Am Flight 103. |
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill is expected to make his decision shortly | Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill is expected to make his decision shortly |
Mr MacAskill has embarked upon a series of consultations with interested parties, including relatives of American victims with whom he held a video conference. | Mr MacAskill has embarked upon a series of consultations with interested parties, including relatives of American victims with whom he held a video conference. |
While unusual for a minister to discuss a prisoner's case with him while he remains in jail, Mr MacAskill is understood to believe the visit is important to allow him to consider all of the facts. | While unusual for a minister to discuss a prisoner's case with him while he remains in jail, Mr MacAskill is understood to believe the visit is important to allow him to consider all of the facts. |
Megrahi's legal team have also made a separate request for him to released from prison on compassionate grounds as he is suffering from terminal prostate cancer. | Megrahi's legal team have also made a separate request for him to released from prison on compassionate grounds as he is suffering from terminal prostate cancer. |
An earlier request, made in October 2008, was rejected by Appeal Court judges after they heard medical evidence that with adequate palliative care, Megrahi could live for several years. | |
The court heard that such requests are normally only granted where a prisoner has less than three months to live. | The court heard that such requests are normally only granted where a prisoner has less than three months to live. |