CAMP ZEIST, Netherlands — One of the two Libyans put on trial for the 1988 Lockerbie airliner bombing was on Wednesday convicted of the murder of the 270 people aboard, but his co-accused was cleared.
Following are thumbnail sketches of the main players in the trial at Camp Zeist, a disused U.S. air base in the Netherlands. The base was declared Scottish territory for the duration of the proceedings conducted under Scottish law.
THE ACCUSED
ABDEL BASSET AL-MEGRAHI — Former head of operations for Libyan Arab Airlines at Malta's Luqa Airport in December 1988, he now faces mandatory life imprisonment but may lodge an appeal.
Prosecutors said Megrahi, 48, worked for the Libyan Intelligence Services, an assertion he denied. According to press reports, Megrahi was born in Tripoli, is married with two children and speaks Arabic and English. One report said he was once director of Libya's Centre for Strategic Studies.
AL-AMIN KHALIFA FAHIMA — Employed by Libyan Arab Airlines as station manager in Malta until a few months before the bombing, Fahima has described himself as a peace-loving man. The prosecution dropped allegations that he too was a member of the Libyan Intelligence Services.
Fahima, 44, is reportedly married with five children. He was born in Suk Giuma in Libya and lived in Tripoli until he was sent to the Netherlands last year to stand trial. In November 2000, his defence team argued he had no case to answer and should walk free after the end of the prosecution case but the judges threw out the motion.
THE JUDGES
LORD SUTHERLAND (presiding judge) — Appointed to the Bench in 1985, Ranald Sutherland, 68, is Scotland's longest-serving judge.
An austere character, he plays by the rules and does not suffer fools gladly. Visibly irritated at the string of delays during the trial, he has nevertheless allowed the prosecution to bring all their evidence, including the disputed diary of Fahima. He threw out the submission by Fahima's defence that the defendant had no case to answer.
LORD COULSFIELD — Appointed to the Scottish Bench in 1987, the cerebral Lord Coulsfield (John Taylor Cameron), 66, taught legal theory at Edinburgh University. Served as a judge in the Courts of Appeal of Jersey and Guernsey before being appointed to the Bench.
LORD MACLEAN — Appointed to the Bench in 1990, Ranald MacLean has a vibrant, dynamic style and is considered one of Scotland's best judges. Educated at Cambridge, Edinburgh and Yale universities, he was appointed this year to chair a committee established to review the sentencing and treatment of serious sexual and violent offenders. He is 62.
LORD ABERNETHY (additional judge) — John Alastair Cameron, Lord Abernethy, was appointed to the Bench in 1992. Like his fellow Lockerbie judges, Lord Abernethy, 62, is held in high regard by legal experts, but has no role to play at the trial unless one of the three main judges becomes incapacitated.
PROSECUTION LAWYERS
COLIN BOYD, Lord Advocate — Appointed Lord Advocate, Scotland's top law officer, in March 2000 after the shock resignation of Lord Hardie, which led to whispers that the prosecution's case was in trouble.
The mild-mannered Boyd, 47, previously held post of solicitor general, number two Scottish law officer.
ALISTAIR CAMPBELL — Senior Counsel for the preparation and conduct of the Lockerbie trial. The methodical but dry Campbell, 51, is respected for his thorough-going style.
DEFENCE LAWYERS
WILLIAM TAYLOR — Counsel for Megrahi. Admitted to English Bar in 1990, Taylor, 56, is a showman who chooses his barbed words with care. Has served as junior counsel for Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth Office and for the Department of Health and Social Security, and has specialised in criminal defence work since the 1980s.
RICHARD KEEN — Counsel for Fahima. Keen, 46, has made his mark with this trial, his flamboyant style impressing and entertaining the public gallery. Has served as junior counsel to the British Department of Trade and Industry.