Terrorism: A Lockerbie Conviction--Tougher Than Expected?

It took nearly 12 years, but last week the trial began of two alleged Libyan intelligence agents accused of blowing up Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Though some victims' families believe the defendants are only bit players in a broader terrorist scheme, they are looking for a conviction at the Netherlands trial. But early indications are that the prosecution's job may be tougher than expected. The defense doesn't have to prove anyone else's involvement but merely sow reasonable doubt in the minds of the judges about the guilt of the defendants. And despite the prosecution's 1,100 witnesses, the defense plans to implicate other terrorist groups. A recantation from one of the prosecution's witnesses could hurt. When an FBI agent in 1990 showed Edwin Bollier, a Swiss electronics maker, photos of a fingernail-size fragment found in the Scottish woods six months after Pan Am 103 went down, Bollier said it could have come from timers he had made for the Libyan army. But he now tells TIME that after finally seeing the actual fragment, he believes it is not the same piece that he saw pictured--and that his company didn't make it. Such inconsistencies could raise the kind of doubts that will complicate the families' search for justice.

--By James L. Graff/Camp Zeist, Netherlands