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Subject: Re: ' |
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From: Jennifer Veitch
<jen@jenniferveitch.co.uk> |
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Date: |
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To: DrJimSwire@aol.com |
Dear Dr Swire,
Thank you for forwarding your letters, which I have read with
interest.
I have filed a news piece to The Scotsman, as they had
requested, although I am not sure how much space it will be allotted in
tomorrow's edition - the news agenda has been somewhat taken over by the sudden
resignation of the Scottish Tory leader David McLetchie.
However the main interview which I did with Professor Black
will appear in the legal pages tomorrow. It is a profile piece, but most of his
comments relate to the Lockerbie case. I understand it should run to about 1300
words, which is of course, not a great deal of space considering the
complexities!
Although I am freelance, I am writing regularly for the
Scotsman's law pages, so I would like to keep in touch with you if that's OK? PersonaIly speaking I think it's important that the case
doesn't slip off the news radar.
Kind regards,
Jennifer
Jennifer Veitch
Freelance Writer and Journalist
tel/fax 0131 478 0767
mobile 07795 345457
email: jen@jenniferveitch.co.uk
On
Dear Jennifer Veitch,
Thank you for listening.
As promised I copy two recent
letters. I don't think either was published, but they give you an orientation
re the group's attitude to Fraser and the SCCRC.
You can use them now in any way
you choose (including deleting them!)
Jim Swire
######################################################################
Sir, TIMES(
Magnus Linklater's
article is very welcome in drawing your readers' attention back to the
worst terrorist outrage to occur in this country.
Many of us share his doubts about
the trial.
From the very first days after
The Scottish police cannot be
blamed for being unable to exert the preferred tight security for the huge
search area of this 'scene of crime', in the face of intense
At the trial, evidence showed
conclusively that at least one item had been removed, interfered with, and
then replaced deliberately for the police to find. Thus the whole evidence
chain was rendered suspect.
The task of a nation's
intelligence services is to support what is seen as that nation's interests, that is not always synonymous with truth and
justice.
Magnus did not mention that when
the investigation was suddenly redirected to
I believe that Scottish Criminal
Justice, through the Scottish Criminal Case Review Commission, must reconsider
this case. its excellent reputation depends upon it.
John Donne wrote "on a huge
hill, cragged and steep, truth stands and he that would reach her about must,
and about must go." We have been doing that for near 17 years, we still
need to know who slaughtered our loved ones.
For our country the price
of truth and justice may be great, the price of failing to deliver
them may well be even greater.
Dr Jim Swire,
father of Flora, murdered at Lockerbie, member '
###########################################################################
Letters editor, the
HERALD
Weekend reports of comments by Lord Fraser
Sir,
Lord Fraser's alleged comments at
this time as to the reliability of Mr Gauchi, (perhaps the most important or 'star' single prosecution
witness to actually attend the
There was to have been another
'star' witness at
If we presume that Lord Fraser's
comments are correctly reported they represent a very different challenge to the process of criminal justice than the
alleged secret political negotiations of last week, or than the
disgraceful affair of Jiaka.
They represent an own goal by the
prosecution team - scored in extra time.
These comments from Lord Fraser
challenge not only the conditions of Mr Megrahi's imposed sentence, but also, much more
importantly, the reliability of the verdict itself.
Lord Fraser was a Lord Advocate
actually in charge of part of the preparation of the prosecution case. Clearly
if he had doubts at that time about Mr Gauchi he should have acted upon them.
Perhaps his doubts only arose
after he heard the evidence of Mr Gauchi
at
Perhaps he became doubtful when he
heard the allegations about suspicious invitations to Gauchi
to take part in fishing trips in Scotland, which sounded to some like improper
'grooming' operations, in contrast to the intimidation to which the other
'star', Jiaka had been subjected.
Having apparently expressed his
doubts now at this late time at least he has dictated that the
SCCRC, if these comments do turn out to be authentic, must take them
into account, for his past role ensures they have significance.
As to the propriety or otherwise
of such comments in this context, others with expert knowledge of Scottish law
must be the judges of that.
Dr Jim Swire,
father of Flora, murdered at Lockerbie, member '