Guys
An understanding of a Fatal Accident Inquiry would answer most of the issues most people have raised on this thread.
After the accident the police interview absolutely every witness possible. Their H.O.L.M.E.S. computer system will make sure that no one is missed. At the same time the Aviation experts set about the wreckage and the evidence found by both parties is then forwarded to the Procurator Fiscal (Similar to the CPS in England). The PF then decides who will have to go to court to tell their story to the Sheriff.
The Sheriff who will have been a senior lawyer a some point in his career will listen to all the evidence from both eye witnesses and professionals (often very conflicting and then issue his findings. The Sheriff remember has no qualms about apportioning blame if their is anyone to be blamed as he should have no vested interest unlike a lot of people who have posted on this thread.
The sheriffs finding also go a long way as to whether further Civil legal action would be taken by the parties involved. If no further legal action has been taken its because lawyers know they will not win a case as another sheriff is not likely to go against the findings of his fellow judge.
Pilot Pete as much as I understand your frustration about sitting in court all day and not been called you may find you were spared the trauma of actually giving evidence because whatever your evidence was had already been 'Proved' in the court. It does not mean that what you had to say was not worthy of been heard.
Remember guys and girls the people who carried out this investigation and then make judgements on it are experts who have gained from their passed experiences such as Lockerbie and we should maybe just take their findings as the final matter in the sad tragic accident