"Lockerbie Bomber" Dies

Successive UK governments have refused to hold a full inquiry. The UK government has also tried to prevent publication of the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission report.
But the Scottish government is conducting an investigation. Let's see how far they get.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18138447

I remember when he was convicted, many were speculating that he didn't do it.

Yes -- I'm very glad that we don't have the death penalty in Europe. Not only because innocent people may die, but also because it serves absolutely no purpose whatsoever, (except, perhaps, vengeance).
There is plenty of evidence to suggest that this particular conviction was "unsafe".

Before his release on compassionate grounds, Megrahi had been granted an appeal (in Scotland this is recommended by an independent commission). This appeal was never heard. The UK government prevented the Scottish parliament from publishing the grounds for appeal.

True. But there is no need to add to the suffering of the victims' families by presenting them with a politically convenient scapegoat when they deserve nothing less than the truth.

I didn't follow the trial closely enough to express an opinion as to whether this man was guilty or not guilty (there is no such thing as a finding of "innocence"). I know for certain, however, that airline bombers are among the most cowardly scum on the planet.

Yes, as the article states:

"The Scottish legal system permits compassionate release for terminal illness. There are only a few applications per year, and most are granted."

So, as far as the "compassionate release" part of the story goes, this was entirely above board, and not even uncommon, due to his medical diagnosis. The Scottish government had already refused to go along with the UK government's request to include Megrahi in a "prisoner transfer" deal, which would have been based on the presumption of Megrahi's guilt.

So this was a relatively elegant and low-key solution to what might otherwise (had his appeal gone ahead) have proved a rather embarrassing scenario for both the US and the UK.

Well, now -- thanks for that. That really IS an interesting link. I hadn't seen it.
The Telegraph (aka "Torygraph" in the UK) is a very conservative and predominantly pro-US publication, so to see even the Telegraph stating that "The US Government told Scottish officials that the Lockerbie bomber's release on compassionate grounds was ''far preferable'' to his transfer back to a Libyan jail" is quite astonishing, and telling.

Thank you for email Tanzanite! It's a great story to do some research on.

You're welcome, KSirys.

Just thought I should add this link to a Scottish government website listing the "compassionate release" cases granted. As you can see, these include people serving life sentences for murder:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/legal/lockerbie/CompassionateReleasePr...

It's not at all clear that he was ever guilty in the first place.
I'd hold back with the word "evil" there...

According to the legal system he was!

Well, yes... but have you never heard of a "miscarriage of justice"?
Scotland is rightly proud of its judicial system, but nobody is perfect -- and this case had more holes than a Swiss cheese

Is the legal system infallible?

Nope, but the Military Industrial Complex sure is. :)

LOL... can't disagree on that, kenny!

It's all tied together, add the Religious factor and you've got a huge war of soft minds. :(