The trial of Libyan national Abu Agila Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi, known as Mas’ud, has been delayed again.
Abu Agila Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi
The trial of the man accused of making the Lockerbie bomb – the worst terrorist attack in UK history – has been delayed for a second time.
Libyan national Abu Agila Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi, known as Mas’ud, was due to go on trial in May, however, the case has been delayed again until April 20 next year. The BBC reports that in July, his lawyers had requested a further delay, arguing that they needed more time to gather all the evidence from the case, which is now 37-years-old.
Masud has denied priming the explosive device which brought down Pan Am flight 103 on 21 December 1988, killing 270 people. The explosion killed 259 passengers and crew and a further 11 people in the Dumfries and Galloway town when wreckage of the Boeing 747 fell on their homes.
It remains the deadliest terror attack in the history of the United Kingdom. Masud, who is in his early 70s, is described as a joint citizen of Libya and Tunisia.
The wreckage of Pan Am flight 103 (Image: Mirrorpix)
He has been receiving treatment for a non-life threatening medical condition.
Prosecutors from the US Department of Justice argued against a second postponement, but the trial judge has set aside the April start date.
It’s understood legal teams are now exploring whether the trial can commence in the summer.
Mas’ud, who has been in custody in the US since 2022, is being represented by a small group of public defenders.
They say they have to review 356GB of data with 413,000 separate files, including expert evidence on DNA, finger and palm prints, explosives, facial recognition and handwriting analysis.
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The defence team said they also have to consider “voluminous documents in multiple foreign languages, thousands of pages of prior-trial transcripts, and documentation of a sprawling 37-year investigation”.
In a submission to the court, they added: “Mr Al-Marimi is anxious for his trial to begin, but understands the challenges that his current attorneys face.”
Prosecutors have argued that a further delay could “irreparably damage” the prospects of a full and fair determination of the facts.
The trial was postponed earlier this year to complexity of the case and poor health of the accused.