Two Palestinians jailed for the 1994 North Finchley bombing will find out next week if their appeal has been successful.

Jawad Botmeh, 31, and Samar Alami, 33, claim they were wrongly convicted of car bomb attacks on Balfour House and the Israeli embassy.

They took their case to the High Court last week in a bid for freedom after five years in prison.

But Julian Bevan QC, for the Crown, told the second day of the hearing on Wednesday last week that the pair had "overwhelming links" to the crime.

"The evidence was overwhelming in relation to the links between them the appellants and the care that carried the bombs and explosives," he said.

Botmeh and Alami, both British residents of Palestinian origin, were convicted in 1996 on the basis that they were part of a British-based terrorist cell attempting to sabotage the Middle East peace process. They claim further evidence has since come to light which casts doubt on their convictions and hope judges will quash the convictions and order a re-trial.

Earlier in the hearing their barrister, Michael Mansfield QC, accused the security services of throwing a blanket of secrecy over intelligence information which defence lawyers believe could clear them.

At the end of the hearing, Lord Justice Rose, Mr Justice Hooper and Mr Justice Goldring retired to reach their verdict.

A decision is expected late next week.

October 24, 2001 17:27

MATTHEW NIXSON