Defense asks for delay in Lockerbie appeal

EDINBURGH, Scotland, June 9 (UPI) -- Lawyers for a Libyan man convicted of involvement in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 have asked for a delay in his appeal.

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi is serving a life sentence in Scotland and was told he must remain behind bars for at least 27 years. Both prosecution and defense are appealing the 27-year release provision.

At a hearing in Edinburgh on Thursday, Margaret Scott, Megrahi's lead lawyer, asked for a delay in the appeal on the sentence until the Scottish Criminal Review Commission has finished reviewing the case, the Glasgow Herald reported. She said that arguing the length of the sentence would be pointless if the conviction is overturned.

The crash of Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988, caused by a bomb in the cargo hold, killed 259 people on the plane and 11 on the ground. Megrahi continues to deny any part in the crash.

An appeal would be heard in the Netherlands by Scottish judges, the same procedure used for the trial.