VOA标准英语2009年-Libyan Lockerbie Bomber Could be Released

The man convicted of the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, could be released from prison next week on compassionate¹ grounds, according to British television. The reports of a release have prompted mixed reactions from families of the victims.
　
Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi (2002 file photo)

Former Libyan intelligence agent Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi is serving a life sentence in a prison in Scotland. But, news reports in Britain say he could be released as early as next week.

Megrahi is dying of prostate cancer and his condition is reported to have worsened. Reports say his early release could be granted on humanitarian² grounds to allow him to spend his remaining days with family back in Libya.

There has been no official confirmation³ of such a move, but Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill says he is considering the issue.

"I have made no decision," said MacAskill. "Clearly I have been listening to representations from the Americans and from the families [of the victims]. I now have to reflect. I am conscious I have to do so as speedily as possible. Clearly, he is terminally ill and there are other factors. But, I have made no decision yet."

A bomb aboard Pan Am Flight 103 brought down the passenger jet in December 1988 over the town of Lockerbie. All 259 people on board were killed along with 11 on the ground. Most of the victims were Americans.

Reports of Megrahi's possible release have prompted mixed reactions from family members of some of the victims.

Speaking on British television, Kathleen Flynn said Megrahi's release would not be right.

"You do not allow someone who has murdered, premeditated murder of 270 innocent people, and let him walk away," she said.

But speaking for some of the British victims' families, Jim Swire, takes a different view. "It is easy for me because I do not believe he's guilty. I think he should never have been found guilty," he said.

Two Libyans were indicted⁴ for the attack, but only Megrahi was convicted under Scottish law at a trial in the Netherlands. Many of the families of Britons killed in the bombing have said they do not think the evidence against Megrahi was conclusive⁵.

He began his prison term in 2002. He has maintained his innocence⁶ and has twice appealed his sentence.

Four years after his conviction, the Libyan government officially acknowledged responsibility and agreed to pay $2.7 billion in compensation to the victims' families. That paved the way for the lifting of Western sanctions against Libya and normalization⁷ of diplomatic ties.

1 compassionate   

adj.有同情心的，表示同情的

参考例句：

• She is a compassionate person.她是一个有同情心的人。
• The compassionate judge gave the young offender a light sentence.慈悲的法官从轻判处了那个年轻罪犯。

2 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

3 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

4 indicted   

控告，起诉( indict的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The senator was indicted for murder. 那位参议员被控犯谋杀罪。
• He was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of murder. 他被大陪审团以两项谋杀罪名起诉。

5 conclusive   

adj.最后的，结论的；确凿的，消除怀疑的

参考例句：

• They produced some fairly conclusive evidence.他们提供了一些相当确凿的证据。
• Franklin did not believe that the French tests were conclusive.富兰克林不相信这个法国人的实验是结论性的。

6 innocence   

n.无罪；天真；无害

参考例句：

• There was a touching air of innocence about the boy.这个男孩有一种令人感动的天真神情。
• The accused man proved his innocence of the crime.被告人经证实无罪。

7 normalization   

n.（normalisation）正常化，标准化

参考例句：

• The visit signalled the normalization of relations between the two countries.这次访问显示两国关系已经正常化。
• He was pleased to the normalization of relationship between the police and the people.他很高兴警方和人民之间关系的正常化。