PROSECUTORS have denied they are deliberately withholding documents which could discredit a key witness who gave evidence at the Lockerbie bomber trial, ahead of an appeal.

PROSECUTORS have denied they are deliberately withholding documents which could discredit a key witness who gave evidence at the Lockerbie bomber trial, ahead of an appeal.

Lawyers for Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi are asking the Court of Appeal to order the Crown to hand over material it believes will cast doubt on the conviction of the terminally ill Libyan.

Today, Ronnie Clancy QC, for the Crown, said prosecutors had already handed over almost 8500 documents - including details of the criminal convictions of hundreds of witnesses - as agreed.

Megrahi's QC, Maggie Scott, said there were still documents missing, and argued a failure to disclose them would deny her client a fair hearing.

Megrahi, 56, was convicted of the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 in which 270 people died.

He is fighting to clear his name despite being diagnosed with incurable advanced prostate cancer.

A key item sought by his defence team is understood to relate to the testimony of key witness Tony Gauci, who sold clothes later found in the wreckage.

The defence is also seeking to recover a fax, revealing the date of an identity "photoshow" and evidence that Mr Gauci was interested in reward money.

The appeal is due to begin on April 27 and could last up to a year.

Ms Scott said: "A petitioner is entitled to recover those documents which are likely to be of material assistance of the proper presentation of those grounds of appeal."

Mr Clancy said he urged the three appeal judges to refuse the request.

He said: "There is an unrequited suspicion that the Crown is deliberately holding more documents that show an interest in rewards.

"The Crown's position is that is not the case."

The hearing continues.