Lockerbie trial delayed for a third time amid new evidence discovery

The trial of Libyan citizen Abu Agila Mas'ud Kheir Al‑Marimi—who is accused of building the bomb that brought down Pan Am Flight 103 on 21 December 1988—has been postponed again. Jury selection in Washington DC, which was due to begin on Wednesday, will now be pushed back to January next year after the court received newly uncovered evidence on Friday 21 August.

Lawyers for Al‑Marimi said the evidence was “novelly discovered” and had not been presented to either side before. The defence has asked the judge that the proceedings be adjourned so that the new facts can be examined thoroughly. The judge, Dabney Friedrich, agreed to the request, emphasising the importance of a careful assessment in a case that has already been through multiple hearings and delays.

Families of the 270 people who lost their lives in the bombing have expressed disappointment but hope that the delay could lead to a more comprehensive examination of the case. “If this just means we get a clearer picture of what happened, then it’s a step in the right direction,” said victim campaigner Kara Weipz.

The new development comes after Al‑Marimi was originally scheduled to stand trial in May 2025. The case, already long and complicated, has seen previous adjournments due to health issues for the accused and joint requests from both defence and prosecution.

The trial, set to take place under U.S. law in Washington DC, will now await the assembly of the latest evidence before the jury can be called. A verdict is unlikely until next spring, extending a saga that has continued for nearly four decades.