Lockerbie bomber relatives launch bid to clear his name

The family of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, along with 24 relatives of Lockerbie bombing victims, have today launched a posthumous appeal against the Libyan's convictions.

It marks the latest step in a protracted legal battle since Megrahi's conviction at a special court in the Netherlands in 2001.

• May 2000: Megrahi and another Libyan, Al Amin Khalifa Fahima, begin trial at a special Scottish court sitting in the Netherlands.
• January 2001: Megrahi convicted of murdering 270 people, Fahima is acquitted.

• January 2002: First appeal, heard in front of five judges, is unsuccessful - Megrahi begins a life sentence in a Glasgow prison.
• June 2007: Scottish Criminal Case Review Commission (SCRCC) sends case to the High Court for appeal, saying Megrahi "may have suffered a miscarriage of justice".

• August 2009: Megrahi released from prison on compassionate grounds after doctors say he will die from cancer within months.
• May 2012: Megrahi dies at home in Tripoli.
• June 2014: Megrahi's family and relatives of victim announce a new appeal is being sent to the SCCRC.

Read: Lockerbie bomber relatives launch bid to clear his name

Lawyers appealing the conviction of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi for the Lockerbie bombing say they have evidence the Libyan was put under pressure not to pursue an earlier appeal.

Mr Megrahi was released from a Scottish prison on compassionate grounds in 2009, before dying at home in Libya in 2012.

Law firm Aamer Anwar & Co say Mr Megrahi was pressurised into "dropping his appeal as a condition of his immediate release" - a claim both the British and Scottish governments have denied.

Read: Lockerbie bomber relatives launch bid to clear his name

A lawyer representing relatives of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi said he is sending three volumes of papers as part of the appeal against the Libyan's conviction for the Lockerbie bombing.

Speaking at a press conference in Glasgow, Aamer Anwar said the documents would now be delivered to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission for consideration, according to reports from STV.

The appeal is backed by long-time campaigner Dr Jim Swire and 23 other British relatives of victims of the bombing, along with six members of Mr Megrahi's family, who are not being identified for safety reasons.

Read: Lockerbie bomber relatives launch bid to clear his name

ITN Scotland correspondent Debi Edward is at the press conference announcing an appeal against the conviction of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi for the 1988 Lockerbie bombing.

Mr Megrahi's family say they are seeking justice for the victims of the atrocity, as well as for Mr Megrahi himself.

Lawyers are trying to relaunch an appeal that Mr Megrahi had prepared prior to his release from jail in 2009 on compassionate grounds.

Relatives of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, the only man convicted of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, have launched an appeal to posthumously clear his name.

Mr Megrahi was convicted of the bombing but released from a Scottish prison in 2009 on compassionate grounds as he had cancer. He later died in Libya in 2012.

Lawyer Aamer Anwar announced the appeal at a press conference alongside Dr Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora died in the atrocity and who has campaigned for the case to be re-opened.