COURT IN BULGARIA CHANGES SHIELDS' SENTENCE

15:54 Fri 28 Apr 2006

The Supreme Court of Cassation in Bulgaria decreased the sentence of British citizen Michael Shields from 15 to 10 years in prison.

Shields' was sentenced for a premeditated murder attempt, Darik radio reported.

Magistrates decided to change the sentence taking into account Shields' lack of criminal record and his age.

The 18-year-old British citizen, however, will pay victim Martin Georgiev 200 000 leva instead of 120 000 leva for the health damage suffered.

Georgiev survived after he received a stone blow to the head on May 30 2005, while trying to prevent a quarrel between a group of British football fans in Bulgaria's Golden Sands resort. Shields and his companions decided to visit Bulgaria after attending a Liverpool match in Istanbul.

Shields claimed he was innocent. At the same time Graham Sankey, one of Shields' companions, confessed from the UK he hit Georgiev. Since Sankey refused to appear before Bulgarian court, his testimony was not counted as evidence proving Shields' innocence.

A statement of the supreme court says the public opinion in the UK is manipulated through the selective presentation of evidence. Such developments undermined Bulgarian legal institutions, the statement said.

The verdict of the supreme court is final and cannot be appealed, Darik radio reported.

Comments

Comments by Rob Hall - 17:19 28 Apr 2006
	Graham Sankey was an englishman in Sofia. He was not Michael Shields companion. They did not know each other. The false evidence used to frame Michael is abhorrent. To think this country wants to be a full member of the EU, yet it can't gather evidence correctly. Everyone knows Michael is innocent, even those who have prosecuted him.
Comments by UK - 17:22 28 Apr 2006
	Somebody who doesn't even know Michael Shields has admitted to doing this. Graham Sankey is that person. Michael Shields isn't a criminal, Bulgaria is a criminal and will never be accepted into the EU if it continues to falsify evidence to fram somebody. Free Michael, prosecute Graham Sankey and if it doesn't act properly, prosecute Bulgaria
Comments by Alan Harrison - 21:00 28 Apr 2006
	Graham Sankey has no connection to Michael Shields. He has not been asked to appear before a Bulgarian court. Bulgaria could ask for him to be extradited but they have not done so. Michael Shields was convicted on ID parade evidence alone. He was taken to the scene of the crime and also handcuffed in full view of the public before this ID parade took place. There is no way the ID parade evidence would stand up in an EU court. The evidence of four people who said they had seen Shields go to his hotel room before the incident took place was thrown out for no good reason by the court. Criticism of this conviction is not slanted in the UK press, after all we wish to see another UK citizen convicted in his place, the guilty man: Graham Sankey. This newspaper would do well to heed it's own words about press impartiality and dare to criticise the government, to ensure justice is served. I for one will not be holidaying in Bulgaria and will ask that your entry to the EU be vetoed until your justice system is overhauled.
Comments by marco milner - 01:30 29 Apr 2006
	Your justice is a complete farce. MIchaeal was never a friend of sankeys. Your judicial system is a joke. You are not welcome in the EU!!!
Comments by J - 03:54 29 Apr 2006
	Muuuuuurderers, muuuuurderers.
Comments by G Davies - 14:06 29 Apr 2006
	2 Points 1 an injury sustained in a fight cannot be considered as attempted premeditated Murder attempted premeditated Manslaughter and also the news in England is not being manipulated at all if you are refering to the documentary last week that brings me to point 2 you cannot have an identity parade after a suspect has been held in the front office of a police station for half a day and also 1 british person in a line up with all bulgarians don't you think he would stand out with the difference in our complexions.
Comments by Englishman in Sofia - 16:09 29 Apr 2006
	This man is so guilty and only brought shame on all Brits in Bulgaria. Let's hope he gets to do his time in England so we don't have to deal with this ugly trash anymore. Anyone who doesn't like Bulgaria becausse of their false loyalty to Shields should please stay home.
Comments by Alan Ha - 16:15 30 Apr 2006
	To Englishman in Sofia - how do you come to that conclusion? The only evidence is one single ID - that after Shields was taken to the scene of the crime for all to see, and then held in full view in the police station for 16 hours. If you have nothing useful to say then stay out of it and let others try to get justice for Michael.
Comments by Alan Harrison - 20:01 30 Apr 2006
	"opinion in the UK is manipulated through the selective presentation of evidence. " says the article. Hah! That's a bit rich from a court that allowed witnesses to ID the accused within the courtroom, and let this stand as evidence! Allowed a prejudicial statement from the prison governer alleging Shields had requested a haircut to change his appearance before the trial and then not allowing the defence to call the governor to challenge this so-called evidence. Admitted all incriminating witness statements even those that were clearly contradictory, yet threw out any defence witnesses including four sworn statements that Shields was in his hotel room at the time of the incident. Yes, that's selective evidence all right, the court can teach us Brits a thing or two about it.
Comments by S P Gaffney - 01:04 02 May 2006
	Dear Sir Regarding Micheal Shields. Lets turn this on it's head and pretend that a Bulgrian had been jailed under the same circumstances in the UK.Newspaper repoters would be told by their editors,That a story THIS LARGE needed to be properly researched to find the truth which is the only thing a good reporter is intrested in.If the PROVEN facts are that Micheal has been misleadingly accussed or even faulsly jailed .Then concidering that Bulgaria is not a Dictatorship it would be a Large story in Bulgria. I am someone who is known for being Cynical all i am intrested in is the truth even if it's not good news. My reasons for writing this 1 = The truth will come out 2 = Without the truth you have Nothing!!!!