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Edinburgh, 24.04.2009 JANA sources - A new documentary on
the Lockerbie incident was shown at the seat of the Scottish
parliament in Edinburg, Thursday night, the documentary is
produced by Dutch production company for the Dutch TV
network (VPRO) in collaboration with the German channels
(ZDF) and (ARTE).
The
film sheds doubt on evidence which accusations were based
on, and reveals striking contrasts in statements made by
officials who devised these accusations.
The
film "Return to Lockerbie" was shown in the presence of a
number of Scottish lawmakers, victims' families and
correspondents of British and Dutch TV channels and
newspapers.
The
film primarily focuses on the bomb timer, which was
allegedly found at the crash site, and the circumstances
that surrounded the handling of the alleged significant
piece of evidence.
The new
documentary, which is being shown for the first time,
revealed contrasts in statements made by senior judiciaries
and investigators in Scotland and FBI investigators, on the
timer of the bomb on board the Pan Am plane, which was
alleged to have been found by Scottish police and FBI during
investigations into the Lockerbie incident.
The
film revealed that at the time when Scottish chief
prosecutor Lord Fraser and head of investigation Stewart
Henderson insisted the timer never left British soil. Chief
investigator of the American federal bureau of investigation
Richard Marquez and the expert who examined the piece Tom
Thurman asserted the timer was taken to the U.S. where it
was examined.
The
film revealed that the person who examined and analyzed the
timer at the Federal Bureau of Investigation was a professor
of political science Tom Thurman and not an explosives
expert.
In this
regard, the film highlighted the accusations made by
Fredrick White Hurst, Federal Bureau of Investigation
forensic expert, against the mentioned professor of
political science that he changed his report. And on the
significance of the evidence, FBI agent, who headed the
American side in the investigation of the incident Marquez,
said "He wrote in the report that accusations cannot be
based on the piece of the electrical circuit of the timer,
let alone a trial".
Following the presentation of the film, audience were
surprised by the striking contrasts in statements of
Scottish senior judiciaries and police on one hand, and
American FBI officials, who supervised the investigations
and said they have examined the mentioned piece, on the
other.
A
member of the Scottish House of Representatives described
what she saw as shameful. "As a former Scottish
public prosecutor, I think comments made by the former
Scottish public prosecutor in the film, where he expressed
some doubts, are shameful," she said. "The former Scottish
public prosecutor did not in any way reveal these doubts
throughout the past years (…) Matters revealed in the film
are extraordinary, contrasts concerning key evidence that
was not secure... it's the end of the case."
A
research journalist informed the mentioned Scottish
parliament member "The film will subject Scottish judicial
system under scrutiny".
Dr. Jim
Swire, Head of families of victims, expressed anger at the
striking contrasts of Scottish and American officials that
were revealed in the film.
"There
is proof of widespread confusion regarding the timer and who
it was handled," Dr. Swire said after witnessing the film.
"The impression one comes out with, some people are trying
participating in a story where they don't want to reveal
facts".
The
producers of the documentary said some Scottish
parliamentarians, who witnessed the film asked for another
presentation so other representatives could see it,
especially that last night's presentation coincided with an
intensive parliament session, and hence most of the
parliamentarians were not able to see the film.
JANA
reporter in London quoted viewers of the film as saying the
new evidence shown in the film will change the entire course
of the case.
The
Scottish Court of Criminal Appeal concluded that Abdel
Basset Al-Maghrahi could have faced a lapse of justice and
ruled he should be granted a new appeal, where the first
session is set for 28th of this month in
Edinburgh, Scotland. And if proven that a lapse of justice
has occurred, as a lot of people think, the consequences
would grave on the Scottish judiciary, and could lead to
accusations of misleading the course of justice.
Producers of "Return to Lockerbie" documentary said the
Dutch TV network (VPRO) and German channels (ZDF) and (ARTE)
will broadcast the film on 27th of this month.
While British channels will broadcast it later. |
