Lawyer seeks money after Megrahi aid

A LEADING Edinburgh law professor who campaigned to quash the conviction of the Lockerbie bomber lobbied Muammar Gaddafi’s son to recover £1 million in legal fees, it has emerged.

Professor Robert Black was key architect of the Lockerbie trial held under Scots law in the Netherlands but has since become a campaigner for the release of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi.

The QC, a professor emeritus of Scots law at Edinburgh University, is demanding £470,000 in unpaid fees for legal advice given to Megrahi’s lawyer, Ibrahim Legwell.

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Prof Black had joined Lord Trefgarne, a former trade minister in Margaret Thatcher’s government, in providing political and legal expertise.

Details emerged in a letter to the son of deposed Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi, which was found in a house near the capital Tripoli.

Lord Trefgarne wrote to Saif al-Islam in 2007 asking for help to recover the fees.

He wrote: “The amount now owing following a small payment is $1.5 million. Prof Black and I would be very grateful for your advice in this matter.”