-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"> </A> -Cui Bono?- from: http://express.lineone.net/newswire/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi/skynews/uk/story/2000 /2/c--2000-2-17-0n18.html Click Here: <A HREF="http://express.lineone.net/newswire/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi/skynews/uk/stor y/2000/2/c--2000-2-17-0n18.html">LineOne News Product</A> ----- LOCKERBIE RELATIVES CONDEMN LORD HARDIE'S RESIGNATION Thursday, February 17, 2000 11:38 The resignation of Scotland's senior law officer just weeks before he was due to lead the prosecution team in the Lockerbie trial was criticised today by the parents of one of the tragedy's victims. Susan Cohen, of New Jersey, said she was "appalled" at the surprise resignation of Lord Hardie, the Lord Advocate, yesterday. The Scottish National Party's Roseanna Cunningham, shadow justice minister, accused him of "getting himself out of the firing line". The Executive has been under fire in the last few months after a series of controversies following last May's adoption of the European Convention on Human Rights into Scots law, including the scrapping of temporary sheriffs. Andrew Hardie was appointed Lord Advocate by the Labour Government, then took up the same position after devolution taking up a place in the Executive cabinet. Lord Hardie has been the brunt of much criticism for the string of problems linked to the ECHR. Calls were made in the wake of the temporary sheriffs decision for his position to be made independent. He will now become a judge, but sources said a successor would be appointed "very soon", adding that the resignation was not expected to make a difference to the Lockerbie trial. Two Libyans accused of causing the crash are expected go on trial in Holland in May. They have denied charges of murder. Susan Cohen's daughter, Theodora ,was one of the 270 who died in the Lockerbie disaster when Pan Am 107 came down on the market town in southern Scotland in 1988. Today Mrs Cohen told BBC Radio Scotland: "When we met with Lord Advocate in Washington last summer he told us he would be there to oversee the trial. "I am appalled and amazed at a moment like this when you have a major trial that you have never had in your history that the Lord Advocate just decides to leave." The Lord Advocate is responsible for all prosecutions in Scotland including the Lockerbie trial. In pre-trial hearings so far, the case has so far been handled by Solicitor-General, Colin Boyd QC. Mr Boyd may now emerge as favourite to replace Andrew Hardie in the Lord Advocate's role. Annabel Goldie, deputy leader of the Scottish Tories, said: "There's only one conclusion to draw from this - the job got too hot to handle and Hardie baled out on his own parachute."Dr Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora died in the Lockerbie disaster, said today: "We are very sorry to see Lord Hardie going from his position, because he has taken a lot of trouble to keep the relatives briefed on what is going on. "He organised seminars for that reason, which were well attended and much-appreciated. At all times he has been friendly but professional in his approach to us." Dr Swire, who is spokesman for families of the British victims, said there was a possible "worry" that Lord Hardie's departure could affect the trial, as he was Lord Advocate when the decisions were taken about a neutral-country trial held under Scottish legal procedures. "He clearly had no objection, and we hope his successor will be equally supportive," said Dr Swire. "It seems likely that Lord Hardie's successor will be the Solicitor General, Colin Boyd, who is currently a member of the prosecution team, and we trust a replacement will be found rapidly to replace him on the prosecution team if he has to leave it." � Press Association ----- Aloha, He'Ping, Om, Shalom, Salaam. Em Hotep, Peace Be, All My Relations. Omnia Bona Bonis, Adieu, Adios, Aloha. Amen. Roads End <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soap-boxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. 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