Judge postpones trial for man charged in 1988 Pan Am bombing

Key Points:

• A federal judge postponed the trial of Abu Agila Mohammad Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi, a former Libyan intelligence official charged in the 1988 Pan Am Flight 103 bombing, due to newly discovered evidence that the defense needs to investigate.
• Jury selection was initially scheduled for Wednesday in Washington, D.C., marking the first U.S. trial related to the Lockerbie bombing, which killed 270 people, including 190 Americans.
• The judge set a hearing for September 1 to discuss the case status, citing the complexity of the case and the need for the defense to prepare adequately in light of the new evidence.
• Al-Marimi is accused of making the bomb that exploded on Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, and faces life imprisonment if convicted; the bombing was allegedly directed by Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.
• Victims' families expressed mixed reactions to the delay, emphasizing the importance of uncovering the full truth even as they were preparing to attend the trial.