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| Lockerbie evidence 'move' claims | Lockerbie evidence 'move' claims |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| An MSP claims a piece of evidence vital to the conviction of the Lockerbie bomber was taken from Scotland to Germany during the investigation. | An MSP claims a piece of evidence vital to the conviction of the Lockerbie bomber was taken from Scotland to Germany during the investigation. |
| Nationalist MSP Christine Grahame claimed a fragment of the timer said to have detonated the 1988 Lockerbie bomb was taken to Munich for examination. | Nationalist MSP Christine Grahame claimed a fragment of the timer said to have detonated the 1988 Lockerbie bomb was taken to Munich for examination. |
| She said the information was confirmed by the Crown Office in response to a Freedom of Information request. | She said the information was confirmed by the Crown Office in response to a Freedom of Information request. |
| The move could have jeopardised the prosecution. | The move could have jeopardised the prosecution. |
| A total of 270 people died when Pan Am flight 103 exploded over the town of Lockerbie in southern Scotland. | A total of 270 people died when Pan Am flight 103 exploded over the town of Lockerbie in southern Scotland. |
| The Crown Office have confirmed to me that the fragment, PT-35, the piece of evidence that it was claimed linked Libya to the attack, was also sent to Germany in April 1990, as well as the US Christine Grahame | The Crown Office have confirmed to me that the fragment, PT-35, the piece of evidence that it was claimed linked Libya to the attack, was also sent to Germany in April 1990, as well as the US Christine Grahame |
| A timer fragment about the size of a thumb nail, known as PT 35, was taken to the Siemens company in Munich in April 1990 by Scottish police officers, according to Ms Grahame. | A timer fragment about the size of a thumb nail, known as PT 35, was taken to the Siemens company in Munich in April 1990 by Scottish police officers, according to Ms Grahame. |
| In a separate development, a senior FBI investigator, Dick Marquise, also claimed the fragment was taken to the United States. | In a separate development, a senior FBI investigator, Dick Marquise, also claimed the fragment was taken to the United States. |
| PT 35 was crucial to the case as it was found in fragments of clothing bought in Malta. | PT 35 was crucial to the case as it was found in fragments of clothing bought in Malta. |
| It was these, the prosecution claimed, that linked the man convicted of the atrocity, the Libyan Abdelbasset al-Megrahi, to the bombing. | It was these, the prosecution claimed, that linked the man convicted of the atrocity, the Libyan Abdelbasset al-Megrahi, to the bombing. |
| If there was any suspicion that the fragment had been tampered with, it could have undermined the entire prosecution case. | If there was any suspicion that the fragment had been tampered with, it could have undermined the entire prosecution case. |
| Megrahi was convicted of the bombing in 2001, after a trial at a specially-convened court in the Netherlands. | Megrahi was convicted of the bombing in 2001, after a trial at a specially-convened court in the Netherlands. |
| The Libyan served eight years in prison before being released in August on compassionate grounds, due to his terminal illness. | The Libyan served eight years in prison before being released in August on compassionate grounds, due to his terminal illness. |
| His release came days after he had dropped the appeal against his conviction, which had been granted by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission. | His release came days after he had dropped the appeal against his conviction, which had been granted by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission. |
| Megrahi has always protested his innocence and has published documents on the internet which would have been used in his appeal. | Megrahi has always protested his innocence and has published documents on the internet which would have been used in his appeal. |
| Ms Grahame said: "The Crown Office have confirmed to me that the fragment, PT-35, the piece of evidence that it was claimed linked Libya to the attack, was also sent to Germany in April 1990, as well as the US. | Ms Grahame said: "The Crown Office have confirmed to me that the fragment, PT-35, the piece of evidence that it was claimed linked Libya to the attack, was also sent to Germany in April 1990, as well as the US. |
| "On 22 June, 1990, it was then taken to the FBI lab in Washington for examination by FBI officials there." | "On 22 June, 1990, it was then taken to the FBI lab in Washington for examination by FBI officials there." |
| She said that on both occasions Lord Fraser of Carmyle, the chief prosecutor at the time, did not know the evidence had been taken out of Scottish jurisdiction and control. | She said that on both occasions Lord Fraser of Carmyle, the chief prosecutor at the time, did not know the evidence had been taken out of Scottish jurisdiction and control. |