US senator calls for return of Lockerbie bomber to jail
A US senator has written to Gordon Brown, demanding the immediate return of the Lockerbie bomber to prison. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, said Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi's early release from Greenock jail in Scotland on compassionate grounds was granted on the assumption that he had only three months to live because he was suffering from prostate cancer.
But three months had now elapsed since he was freed on 20 August and there was "speculation" that the severity of the Libyan's condition had been exaggerated, the senator said. He went on: "The bottom line is Megrahi should have never been released in the first place but it would be even more outrageous if he were to be able to live a long and free life after his release." In his letter to the Prime Minister he said: "Justice in this case was life in prison, no exceptions." Megrahi, who has now returned home to Tripoli, was serving a life sentence for the 1988 jumbo jet bombing which claimed 270 lives.
This headline should have read US senator makes a complete fool of himself. As I understand it, Gordon Brown has got nothing to do with the release of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi. The jurisdiction rested with Kenny MacAskill the Scottish Justice Minister.
It is not up to this stupid Yank, Charles Schumer, to start telling other jurisdictions what justice entails. I note that he has added the provision "no exceptions". In both the English and Scottish legal systems we have the provision of compassionate release.
If I was Gordon Brown, I would respond to Charles Schumer's publicity seeking bollocks with MYOB Mind Your Own Business!
A mixture of law, politics, autobiography and humour. Once described as "The Devilish Advocate" (Guardian), I do have the ability to provoke a response. Sometimes it comes from someone who uses a thought process, and sometimes from jerks usually associated with the knee.
No comments:
Post a Comment