Lockerbie bomber’s family launch appeal

● Widow and son ‘100 per cent’ sure he was innocent ● Appeal centres around concerns over evidence

The family of the Lockerbie bomber have lodged a fresh appeal against his conviction five years after his death, insisting they are “100 per cent certain” he was innocent.

Abdelbaset ali Mohmed almegrahi remains the only personeverconvictedoverthe bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, which exploded over the town on 21 December 1988, killing 270 people from more than 20 countries.

Megrahi was jailed for 27 years in 2001 after his conviction by a specially-convened court in the Netherlands, but was controversially released on compassionate grounds in 2009 and died of prostate cancer three years later.

Two previous appeals against the verdict have failed, but his widow Aisha and son Ali have now lodged a posthumous attempt to clear his name.

Yesterday the family’s lawyer Aamer Anwar handed files to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC), which is responsible for investigating alleged miscarriages of justice.

It is understood that the appeal centres around concerns over the evidence that convicted Megrahi, including that given by Maltese shopkeeper Tony Gauci, who died last year.

Mr Gauci was a crucial witness

0 Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-megrahi is the only person ever to be convicted over the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie in 1988 at the Libyan’s trial, claiming that he sold Megrahi the clothing that was wrapped around the bomb which brought the plane down.

Ali Megrahi, 22, said he saw the lodging of the appeal application as a “milestone” on the road to proving that the verdict against his father was unsafe.

“When my father returned to Libya, I spent most of my time next to him and had the opportunity to talk to him as much as possible before he passed away,” he added. “I am 100 per cent certain that he was innocent and not the