Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
22 May 2008
LOCKERBIE APPEAL HEARING
Following the article in The Herald today, titled "Bid to ban Lockerbie lawyers in secrets hearing", which suggests that the Crown will next week attempt to "throw an unprecedented veil of secrecy over the appeal of the Lockerbie bomber", the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service today issued the following statement:
A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said:
"The Criminal Appeal Court has set three days aside next week to hear proposals from the Advocate General, representing the United Kingdom Government, the Crown and the representatives of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, on the procedure the Court should follow when hearing arguments on the issue of Public Interest Immunity (PII).
"The claim of Public Interest Immunity (PII) in the Lockerbie appeal has been taken by the UK Government, not by the Lord Advocate. The UK Government is represented by the Advocate General.
"The court hearings next week will take place in public and it will be entirely a matter for the Court whether any future hearings in private are required.
"All parties involved have a mutual interest in ensuring that this appeal is fair and Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi's lawyers will be fully involved in next week's hearing.
"The Lord Advocate, as public prosecutor, has a responsibility to ensure that all criminal proceedings in Scotland, including appeals, are conducted fairly and will be represented at the PII hearing in respect of the prosecution interest in the appeal.
"It would be inappropriate to provide further comment or speculate on legal issues which are before the court in a live appeal."
Notes to Editors
1. The hearing next week at the High Court in Edinburgh is from the 27th of May to 29th of May 2008.
2. These dates were intimated to all parties, including the defence, on the 14th of April 2008, by the High Court of Justiciary.
3. For the avoidance of doubt the purpose of next week's court hearing has already been discussed in open court with journalists present in February 2008.
4. All parties, as directed by the court, have lodged written submissions. All parties are to present their submissions in this open court hearing.
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