Aug 13, 2009 10:30 pm US/Eastern
N.J. Mom Fearful Pan Am Bomber Could Be Released
CAPE MAY COURTHOUSE, N.J. (CBS 3) ―
-
-
This Feb. 18, 1992 photo shows Libyan Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi before appearing at the Supreme Court in Tripoli for a hearing in connection with the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am flight over Lockerbie, Scotland.
Manoocher Deghati/AFP/Getty Images
The man who bombed Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988 could soon be released from prison.
The possible release is sending shock-waves across the world, stunning the families of the 270 people who were killed on that plane.
Theodora Cohen was just 20-years-old when she died and her mother from Cape May County is irate.
Susan Cohen says it is unacceptable that her daughter's killer is even being considered to be set free and she says the possibility just horrifies her.
"I am extremely upset, extremely angry, extremely outraged," Susan explained.
Theodora was Susan's only child.
"This is really a horrible thing, there is no reason why a mass murderer should be let out for compassionate release or anything else," Susan said.
The Lockerbie bomber -- Abdel Baset Ali al-Megrahi -- was sentenced to life in prison. The suitcase bomb killed 270 people, most of them Americans.
But now, the Scottish authorities are considering requests to set him free because he is dying of cancer. And there is a chance he could be released.
"That's what I fear. Why have compassion for Megrahi? Please have compassion for me," Susan said.
Cohen says she has written letters to the White House hoping the Obama administration would step in. But so far, she has not gotten a response and she fears the man convicted of bombing and killing her 20-year-old daughter will walk free.
"I am a wreck. The families have suffered for years, many innocent young people have died. They died on that plane. So Megrahi, serve out his term and he can die in prison. I think that would be fine with me."
Authorities in Scotland will be the ones to make the decision. A decision is expected to be made sometime next week.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Openly Gay Celebrities
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments