RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesHis former employer, Libyan Airlines, announced his death ‘with deep sorrow and profound grief’
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A Libyan man acquitted following his trial over the Lockerbie bombing has died, according to reports.
Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah was cleared of playing a role in the disaster on 21 December 1988, when Pan Am Flight 103 exploded above Lockerbie, killing 270 people.
His co-accused, the late Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, remains the single individual convicted over the attack, having been found guilty of 270 counts of murder by a panel of three Scottish judges at a special court in the Hague in 2001.
His former employer, Libyan Airlines, for which he previously worked, announced his death "with deep sorrow and profound grief" in a Facebook post.
It said: “We extend our heartfelt condolences and sincere sympathy to his noble family and all his colleagues and loved ones.”
He worked in Malta for Libyan Airlines where he was station manager for several years, and left just before the bombing.
Megrahi was sent to prison in Scotland but was controversially granted compassionate release in 2009 after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, returning home to Libya where he died in 2012.
Another man charged over the explosion is due to stand trial in the US.
Jury selection had been due to begin this week in the trial of Abu Agila Masud who is charged with making the bomb that destroyed the plane, which he has denied.
It has now been postponed, with a further hearing scheduled to take place in Washington next month to discuss the status of the case.
The discovery of new evidence that defence lawyers want to examine was cited.
But the nature of the evidence was not specified in the order from US District Judge Dabney Friedrich.
Stephanie Bernstein, vice president of the Victims of PanAm Flight 103 group, said there has been “astonishment” at the delay, which is expected to push the trial back by several months.
Ms Bernstein, who lost her husband Michael Bernstein in the bombing, said: “One of the concerns that I have is that many of our family members are elderly.
“A number of them were getting ready to travel to Washington for the trial.
“I hope and I pray that they will still be able to do that when a new trial date is set.”
She added: “That is a hope that we’ve had – that as many of our family members as possible will live to see this trial.”
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