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Sat, Feb 11 2012
Michael Shields is pardoned by UK justice secretary Jack Straw
Michael Shields on his way out of prison
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Liverpool fan Michael Shields has been pardoned by justice secretary Jack Straw in the light of new evidence that emerged following Straw's recent meeting with Shields' parents.
The 22-year-old, who is serving a 10-year sentence for the attempted murder of a barman in Bulgaria, is set to leave prison later on September 9.
Shields was jailed in 2005 for the attack on barman Martin Georgiev, which took place after his team's win in the 2005 Champions League final.
His parents have long campaigned for his release since he was convicted.
In a statement, Straw said that during his last meeting with the Shields family on 28 August "important new evidence came to light". Straw was apparently told of a visit by two members of the Shields family to the home of another man alleged to be responsible for the crime.
He said: "I was told that in the course of the visit that man made an oral confession to the crime in front of several other people. When looked at alongside all the previously available evidence, (it) has now satisfied me that Mr Shields meets the high test set by the court," said Straw.
His pardon follows a campaign by his family, MPs, clergymen, Liverpool FC players and many others, who believe he is innocent.
Shields' solicitor John Wheate said the jailed fan was "absolutely ecstatic" when he was given the news. His parents had been told of the decision in a telephone call with Straw on the morning of September 9.
Wheate said: "I don't know if Michael has been released yet but I can confirm he has been pardoned and will be released today. His parents spoke to Jack Straw earlier this morning and I have spoken to Michael myself. At first he couldn't believe it after all these years and knock backs. But now he is absolutely ecstatic and so are his family."
Straw had previously announced his provisional decision not to pardon Shields on July 2.
Louise Ellman, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, who has been campaigning for Shields's release ever since his conviction, said today: "I am overjoyed at Jack Straw's decision. Michael has suffered a gross miscarriage of justice, incarcerated for four years for a crime he did not commit and for which another man has confessed. I pay tribute to Michael's family and the people of Liverpool for their remarkable courage and persistence."
Ellman added: "Jack Straw has brought justice to an innocent young man. This is a day for celebration."
The 22-year-old, who is serving a 10-year sentence for the attempted murder of a barman in Bulgaria, is set to leave prison later on September 9.
Shields was jailed in 2005 for the attack on barman Martin Georgiev, which took place after his team's win in the 2005 Champions League final.
His parents have long campaigned for his release since he was convicted.
In a statement, Straw said that during his last meeting with the Shields family on 28 August "important new evidence came to light". Straw was apparently told of a visit by two members of the Shields family to the home of another man alleged to be responsible for the crime.
He said: "I was told that in the course of the visit that man made an oral confession to the crime in front of several other people. When looked at alongside all the previously available evidence, (it) has now satisfied me that Mr Shields meets the high test set by the court," said Straw.
His pardon follows a campaign by his family, MPs, clergymen, Liverpool FC players and many others, who believe he is innocent.
Shields' solicitor John Wheate said the jailed fan was "absolutely ecstatic" when he was given the news. His parents had been told of the decision in a telephone call with Straw on the morning of September 9.
Wheate said: "I don't know if Michael has been released yet but I can confirm he has been pardoned and will be released today. His parents spoke to Jack Straw earlier this morning and I have spoken to Michael myself. At first he couldn't believe it after all these years and knock backs. But now he is absolutely ecstatic and so are his family."
Straw had previously announced his provisional decision not to pardon Shields on July 2.
Louise Ellman, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, who has been campaigning for Shields's release ever since his conviction, said today: "I am overjoyed at Jack Straw's decision. Michael has suffered a gross miscarriage of justice, incarcerated for four years for a crime he did not commit and for which another man has confessed. I pay tribute to Michael's family and the people of Liverpool for their remarkable courage and persistence."
Ellman added: "Jack Straw has brought justice to an innocent young man. This is a day for celebration."
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Miscarriage of justice?
Michael Shields’ royal pardon followed a long campaign but observers are perplexed what ‘new’ evidence triggered Straw’s decision
Nothing good comes out of Shields's pardon, victim Martin Georgiev says
I want to see on what grounds Michael Shields was pardoned, Bulgarian bartender Martin Georgiev says.
Shields vs Straw election duel uncertain
Michael Shields father has neither confirmed nor denied the news he was running against Jack Straw, the man who pardoned his son.
Jack Straw's statement on Michael Shields
This is the full text of the September 9 2009 statement by UK justice secretary Jack Straw on his decision to pardon Michael Shields.
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This is what we called, justise. Bulgrians are just as if bunch of hopeless Soviets, detaining people for no reasons.
By the way, I'm a Liverpool supporter, but this has absolutely nothing to do with football.
I almost puked when I saw Michael Shields in the stands as a special guest of LFC during the Burnley match. Hadn't heard about his pardon by Jack Straw. Made a hero out of a worthless thug who tried to brutally murder an innocent, defenseless man. But hey who cares, right? The victim was Bulgarian and Shields is from Liverpool. That's all some people in the UK seem to care about. Disgusting!
Very sad to see the level of debate on both sides here.
In my opinion Straw made the right decision for the wrong reasons. I hope Shields eventually proves his innocence in the Bulgarian courts and that the real culprit is extradited to Bulgaria.
This comment has been hidden by the moderator because it contained квалификации.
This comment has been hidden by the moderator because it contained квалификации.
.. to see him LEAVE prison is what I mean...
The funny thing is the next person he hurts, will most likely be someone who, as we speak , is thrilled to see him prison - a fellow Liverpool white trash....
Just look at his face.
He will kill....
I am now ashamed to be a Brit in Bulgaria i love this country but am now concerned we will all be tarnished. I have great respect for Bulgaria and would never be afraid to go out on my own, but i would never go out on my own in Liverpool so go back to your voilent poverty stricken drug dealing council estate and be happy,you are as guilty as sin itself i would also like to wipe the smirk off his face when being interviewd on tv. My heart goes out to the victim and his family lets set [...]
Read the full comment up a fund for this victim of a nasty crime come on Sofia Echo start the ball rolling.
They pardoned the Lockerbie terrorist, why not Shields? I wonder who is next?
now he can go back to his Liverpool council estate and sell drugs, spray paint walls, and gin up for the next bar brawl..British justice, after Megrahi and Shields, what's next?
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained не е по темата на статията
Michael is and always has been innocent of this crime. YNWA Michael xxx
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained не е по темата на статията
Innocent nothing that comes out of liverpool is innocent. The children shoot each other the parents are all drug takers and voilent this guy is guilty as charged Jack straw is guilty of making the british legal system a joke. I say to Bulgaria ban all these football scum from your fantastic country .
Shields was tried and sentenced by a foreign court, which in itself is cast-iron proof of innocence for many British nationalists. But it's not just that -- he's associated with Liverpool FC, which seems to guarantee privileged treatment by the law.
Why the Pardoning of Michael Shields sets a Dangerous Precedent
The pardoning of Michael Shields by the Justice secretary, Jack Straw creates an extremely dangerous precedent.
Shields was convicted in Bulgaria of the attempted murder of a barman and sentenced to 10 years in custody. He exhausted his legal remedies in Bulgaria, his appeal to the European Court of Human Rights was dismissed, and in 2006, presumably under a prisoner transfer arrangement, he was returned to serve the remainder of his sentence in the UK.
The basis of Shields' defence [...]
Read the full comment was that he was not responsible for the injury. Indeed, one Graham Sankey confessed to the offence, though significantly did not give this evidence under oath before the Bulgarian courts. It has never been tested.
The basis of Straw's decision to pardon appears to be based on another "confession". I don't suppose we'll ever know more about the bizarre circ umstances if this, but according to the report
"I [Straw] was told that in the course of the visit that man made an oral confession to the crime in front of several other people.
And that enabled the Justice Secretary to conclude that Shields was
"morally and technically innocent"
Such an untested hearsay confession, would never be acceptable in any English court.
Just imagine the rumpus if a Bulgarian citizen having been charged and convicted of a serious offence in England, returned to his home, then pardoned in similar circumstance to Shields. Or if the Libyan authorities were to declare Megrahi innocent and pardon him.
Will you imprison the one who confessed to have done it?!!!!
Yet again football scum pissed out of his brain uneducated low life.. where is the proof of his innocence. Take him back to Bulgaria to serve his time feed him on bread and water until he repents for his crime. Jack Straw should be locked up this scum bag will now sell his story to the low life newspapers and sell it to the low life scum thats if his mates can read i doubt it.
This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained не е по темата на статията
this is a scandal when will the bloody english learn to respect other countries and behave like normal human beings when on holiday i am embarrassed to be english and when such people do such things they should pay the price, wether this low life did or did not do what he was imprisoned for he was there and part of the thuggery that has become the english way for my part i would happily give my english nationality up, wake up uk and learn to respect
If he was innocent then he should be free. But I will be interested to see if the man who 'confessed' will be tried for the crime.
You treat us as gypsies, arabs, commies or whatever but we are way whiter than you and we were Christian when you were still living in caves.
Would you mind if we free a murderer of a UK citizen, who is transfered to Bulgaria?
If we go to your country, and almost kill your son, then you catch my friend and when I am in Bulagria say:'It was me! Free him!' what would you do? feel free to try imagine... I love Liverpool but this crime doesn't even have a bit in relation to football.
JS - yes maybe he is not innocent, but he is legally innocent. It is the later that matters!!
Guilty. Just like the murderers were at Heysel. JUSTICE FOR THE 39.
The pardon means that he was NOT convicted according to law.
he'll be releasing his autibiogaphy soon, prolly sell it to the Sun. "The Buggery Days"
Justice for the 96
and Justice for the Bulgarian barman.
Sad, we Liverpool supporters spent so much time defending Shields, and not one word of compassion was said about Martin Georgiev.
Kop Army
he is so innocent he should never have been locked up in the first place all the best michael hope you can now try to get back on with your life mate xxx
its about bloomin time should never have took this long
Royal pardon legally does not equal innocent.A pardon is the forgiveness of a crime given by the monarch. Jack Straw was given new evidence on 28 August, about an event in 2005. Nobody else before, neither the Bulgarian court, nor the solicitors of M. Shields were told about this key evidence (oral confession of a third man). Isn't this a little bit strange?