A federal judge has set January 19, 2025 as the start date for jury selection in the trial of Abu Agila Mohammad Mas'ud Kheir Al-Marimi, a Libyan intelligence official charged with building the bomb that destroyed Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988. The decision follows a delay to review newly discovered evidence, which prosecutors and defense attorneys have not disclosed in open court.
Judge Dabney Friedrich of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia confirmed the timeline after postponing the trial, originally scheduled for August 26, to allow additional time for the defense to examine the undisclosed evidence. The trial is expected to last two months, with jury selection beginning on January 19, though the judge noted the date remains subject to confirmation based on juror availability.
Al-Marimi, now in his mid-70s, appeared in court via video feed during a brief hearing on Tuesday. He was dressed in a green prison jumpsuit and listened to translated proceedings through headphones, occasionally closing his eyes or twiddling his thumbs. He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of destruction of an aircraft resulting in death, which carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if he is convicted.
Prosecutors allege that Al-Marimi, along with others, carried out the bombing at the direction of former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, who was ousted and killed during Libya’s 2011 civil war. The explosion occurred 38 minutes after the New York-bound flight departed from London Heathrow Airport, killing all 259 passengers and crew members aboard the plane, as well as 11 people on the ground in Lockerbie.
The defense has indicated that the newly discovered evidence will require additional time to review, including the deposition of four expert witnesses. Laura Koenig, one of Al-Marimi’s attorneys, stated that the evidence will add approximately one week to the defense’s presentation at trial. Neither the prosecution nor the defense discussed the specifics of the evidence during the pretrial hearing, and court filings have not provided further details.
The case has faced multiple delays since Al-Marimi’s extradition to the U.S. in 2022. Judge Friedrich emphasized her reluctance to allow further postponements, noting that jury selection had already been delayed three times. The trial is being held at the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse in Washington, D.C.