Victims’ families express frustration over denied remote access to trial
Abu Agila Masud is facing charges for allegedly building the bomb that took down Pan Am 103 back in December 1988. Sadly, televised trials aren’t allowed in federal courts in the U.S. So, the Department of Justice suggested that families could have limited online access. But a judge shot that down, worried it might mess with Masud’s right to a fair trial.
Instead, families can only watch the trial in specific secure locations, like U.S. embassies or courthouses. It’s still unclear how that’ll work for those in the UK, where the U.S. has an embassy in London and consulates in Edinburgh and Belfast.
Trudy-Ann Peters, who lost her mother Olive in the bombing, was really looking forward to watching the trial with family at home. She said it’s inconvenient but understands the need for fairness in the trial.
Pamela Dix, who lost her brother Peter, is feeling frustrated. She mentioned that getting access to the trial will be a “mission” for many older relatives. They’re in their 60s, 70s, and even 80s and 90s, making travel tough.
The trial is set to start in May, and of the 270 people who died, 190 were American and 43 were from the UK. The issue of remote access was raised by American families who can’t travel easily.
U.S. politicians passed a law to help families follow the trial, but Masud’s lawyers argued that allowing remote access could lead to unauthorized sharing of footage. The judge agreed, saying it could jeopardize the trial’s integrity.
Kara Weipz, from the group Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, expressed disappointment, noting that many will miss out on the trial due to the restrictions. Masud is currently receiving medical treatment but is still expected to stand trial on May 12.
