Lockerbie : First stage of Appeal Ends.

According to reports on BBC radio yesterday, and now reported briefly in the Scotsman newspaper, the first stage of the appeal by convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Megrahi has been concluded by his legal team.

The Judges will now consider the submissions presented and decide whether further grounds of the appeal should be deliberated. It is thought that should the judges deem the appeal should proceed, the second stage of the appeal will concentrate on the original trials witness statements and identification by Tony Gauci.

Lord Hamilton, the Lord Justice-General, said ""We appreciate that having regard to, among other things, the appellant's state of health, there will be concern we deal with these matters as expeditiously as possible. But having regard to their importance to all concerned, we cannot and must not rush to judgment."

http://news.scotsman.com/world/Lockerbie-bomber39s-legal-team-puts.5282729.jp