Pardon decision on Michael Shields expected within days
According to UK daily the Guardian, the UK justice ministry had confirmed that a decision whether to pardon jailed Liverpool football fan Michael Shields was days away.
As reported earlier, a decision was expected by the end of June.
On June 26, the Guardian said a decision could be expected on June 30.
Shields (22) was found guilty by Bulgarian courts of the attempted murder of Martin Georgiev by repeatedly hitting the bartender with a paving slab. Appeals to the highest Bulgarian courts and to a European court to overturn his conviction failed.
Shields, 22, was transferred to the UK in 2006 after his 15-year sentence for the attempted murder of barman Martin Georgiev in the Black Sea resort of Varna was reduced on appeal to 10 years.
In December 2008, London's High Court ruled that a pardon relied upon fresh evidence which had not been considered by the Bulgarian courts. A confession by another Liverpool fan, Graham Sankey, which he later retracted, would not form part of the new evidence, the judges said.
A spokesperson for the justice ministry was quoted by the Guardian as saying that justice minister Jack Straw was "determined to make the best and fairest decision that he can, but he can only do so after properly assessing all of the material that is available".
As reported earlier, a decision was expected by the end of June.
On June 26, the Guardian said a decision could be expected on June 30.
Shields (22) was found guilty by Bulgarian courts of the attempted murder of Martin Georgiev by repeatedly hitting the bartender with a paving slab. Appeals to the highest Bulgarian courts and to a European court to overturn his conviction failed.
Shields, 22, was transferred to the UK in 2006 after his 15-year sentence for the attempted murder of barman Martin Georgiev in the Black Sea resort of Varna was reduced on appeal to 10 years.
In December 2008, London's High Court ruled that a pardon relied upon fresh evidence which had not been considered by the Bulgarian courts. A confession by another Liverpool fan, Graham Sankey, which he later retracted, would not form part of the new evidence, the judges said.
A spokesperson for the justice ministry was quoted by the Guardian as saying that justice minister Jack Straw was "determined to make the best and fairest decision that he can, but he can only do so after properly assessing all of the material that is available".