Transcript:
News Host:
What was your response to the
verdict itself?
Peter Lowenstein:
I was very satisfied with the
verdict. I thought that the main perpetrator was found guilty and it was
further stipulated that he was guilty while in the employ of the Libyan
intelligence services. This clearly tells me that this was state sponsored
terrorism which is what we have always felt it was. I was a little disappointed
that the judges decided to make 20 years the minimum length of time that
he would serve in prison - I think that is just no long enough.
News Host:
Do you think any action should
be taken against Libya in the light of the verdicts and the judges' findings?
Peter Lowenstein:
I think that the United States
Government now has an obligation to strengthen the sanctions that we have
in place against Libya and do everything possible to legally depose the
government of Colonel Gaddafi in Libya.
News Host:
On a personal basis how has your
family borne up to the whole trial period and the period before that?
Peter Lowenstein:
It has been a tough time but
under the circumstances I think we have borne up very well - we have been
toughened by this experience. It is a great loss that just won't change.
News Host:
With the trial now over, has
there been any closure for you personally?
Peter Lowenstein:
What is interesting is that only
media people could even evoke the term closure when your 21 year-old son
was murdered - there is no closure - this will be with us forever. Today
was a very important step and a very important weight taken off my shoulders
but certainly it is not the end of the journey and it is certainly not
any form of closure.
News Host:
What would you like to see happen
now? There has been talk of a civil action - would that be something you
can see yourself pursing?
Peter Lowenstein:
There is a legal action apparently
in place and I have no problem with it. I have subscribed to it as did
most of the American families. It is not paramount in my mind. The criminal
case was from day one, the one I was most interested in and the one that
I feel is most important and I am very gratified at its outcome. I am very
grateful to the Scottish legal system for coming through.
News Host:
Do you think the Scottish legal
system has done a good job on this case?
I think the Scottish legal system worked very, very well. I think that the initial investigation part of it was excellent. I think the Crown's attorneys did a very fine job as did the judges.
News Host:
Do you have any fears that the
verdict will be overturned on appeal?
Peter Lowenstein:
That is always a possibility
but I honestly don't think so. These judges were very careful in how they
dealt with this case. I am not an attorney and I am not familiar with Scottish
law but I would be very surprised if an appeal were successful in this
case.
News Host:
What did you feel about the length
of the sentence? From what you said earlier you were not too happy about
that.
Peter Lowenstein:
No I am not. Two hundred and
seventy people were murdered, my son being one of them and the man is going
to be in prison for less than 270 months - that is less than one month
per murdered victim. It doesn't sound right to me.