Row after Lockerbie film shown at Holyrood

Published on Tuesday 29 September 2009 22:23

A ROW erupted last night when a controversial documentary claiming to challenge the evidence that led to the conviction of the Lockerbie bomber was shown at Holyrood.

Christine Grahame, the SNP MSP who believes Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi is innocent, arranged a showing of Lockerbie Revisited, by Dutch documentary-maker Gideon Levy, that raises questions about evidence linking the bomb to Libya.

The film– never screened on mainstream British TV – suggests a fragment of the device left the UK without permission and was examined in the US – a move which could have led to contamination of evidence.

Last night Richard Marquise, the FBI agent who led the US side of the Lockerbie investigation questioned whether it was helpful to show the film.

"I'm still certain the evidence was righteous," Mr Marquise said.

A Crown Office spokesman said: "The only appropriate forum for the determination of guilt or innocence is the criminal court."