Dying Lockerbie bomber 'could survive for 10 years or more'

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

The Lockerbie bomber could survive for 10 years or longer, according to a cancer specialist who last year said he would be dead within three months of his release.

Professor Karol Sikora, who assessed Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi for the Libyan authorities almost a year ago, told The Sunday Times it was "embarrassing" the bomber had outlived his three-month prognosis.

Megrahi, 58, is the only person convicted of the 1988 bombing of a US Pan Am jumbo jet over Lockerbie, which left 270 dead.

he Scottish government provoked outrage from the United States when it released him from prison in August 2009 on compassionate grounds because he dying of metastatic prostate cancer.

In Scotland, prisoners are eligible for release on compassionate grounds if they have fewer than three months to live.

A report in the Sunday Times said Libyan authorities, keen to secure Megrahi’s release, asked several experts to put a three-month estimate on the bomber’s life but Professor Sikora was the only one to agree.

Professor Sikora, the dean of medicine at Buckingham University and medical director of CancerPartnersUK in London, was paid for his medical assessment of Megrahi at Greenock prison on July last year.

He told the newspaper: “There was always a chance he could live for 10 years, 20 years ... But it's very unusual.

"It was clear that three months was what they were aiming for. Three months was the critical point.

"On the balance of probabilities, I felt I could sort of justify [that]."

He denied he came any under pressure, but admitted: "It is embarrassing that he's gone on for so long."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/7871234/Dying-Lockerbie-bomber-could-survive-for-10-years-or-more.html

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I'm sure they'll be dancing in the street.

[natty bumppo 297]

you actually believed the bomber was ill ?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The Scottish Justice Secretary made the best decision he could with the information he had. What do you want him to do - make the guy die?

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

The Scottish Justice Secretary made the best decision he could with the information he had. What do you want him to do - make the guy die?

This may seem out of character for me but - Yes, he should have died in prison. The Secretary got played.

Edited July 7, 2010 by Sousuke

[lostinblue 1,989]

The Scottish Justice Secretary made the best decision he could with the information he had. What do you want him to do - make the guy die?

If he lasted more than 3 months then go get him and let him serve his time in jail. I am sure a "special " team could pull it off.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

If he lasted more than 3 months then go get him and let him serve his time in jail. I am sure a "special " team could pull it off.

It's not common practice to release people from jail and then drag them back in for the same crime.

[SMOKE 1,426]

It's not common practice to release people from jail and then drag them back in for the same crime.

+ that might effect the oil deal that got him released.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

If memory serves the Libyans wanted the guy to be transferred to a Libyan jail, and this was refused by the Scottish authorities. He was released for health reasons, because not doing so would have required a change in Scottish law.

If memory serves the Libyans wanted the guy to be transferred to a Libyan jail, and this was refused by the Scottish authorities. He was released for health reasons, because not doing so would have required a change in Scottish law.

[_Simpson_ 250]

What a stupid law. I feel for the victims relatives.

There has to be some legal loophole that can enable the government to throw his a55 back in jail where he belongs. This is sad and sick.

[Peikko 1,575]

Because you don't understand how other countries operate their legal systems that makes them stupid? Interesting, and it is not like there were no Scottish victims. Certainly there was a political dimension, but it was not pandered to by the Scots, but rather played by the US and English government. Sometimes a little research takes you a long way, whereas simple emotional responses to complex issues leaves you looking like a fool.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

The Scottish Justice Secretary made the best decision he could with the information he had. What do you want him to do - make the guy die?

Everyone dies. Get the memo?

[SuperDuper! 230]

No one mentioned BP's purported connection to the release of the Libyan Bomber. BP won a BIG oil drilling contract from Libya, ####### for tat. I'm disappointed. I thought folks were so smart here.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

No one mentioned BP's purported connection to the release of the Libyan Bomber. BP won a BIG oil drilling contract from Libya, ####### for tat. I'm disappointed. I thought folks were so smart here.

Smoke beat you to it.