By Administrator on Apr 9, 09 11:56 AM in Journalists
HUNDREDS of Liverpool fans are set to march from the city centre to Anfield to help win justice for Michael Shields.
Campaigners will attend a rally outside St George's Hall on Saturday morning and then walk to the Liverpool supporter's club in Anfield before the Reds' game against Blackburn Rovers later that day.
The vital Premier League clash against Blackburn at Anfield was chosen because Justice secretary Jack Straw is MP for Blackburn.
Organisers hope they will grab the Justice secretary's attention and keep Michael's battle for justice in his mind.
In January Mr Straw asked Merseyside Police to begin an inquiry into the case of 22-year-old Michael who was jailed in Bulgaria in 2005 for the attempted murder of waiter Martin Georgiev.
The engineering student, from Edge hill, has always insisted he is innocent and his cause has won high-profile support and gained widespread credibility.
Mr Straw is now considering whether to give the Reds fans a Royal pardon and is understood to be waiting for the results of the police inquiry which could be finalised next month.
May is also the fourth anniversary of Michael's arrest for the attack in the Black Sea resort of Golden Sands after he had travelled to Istanbul to watch Liverpool win the European Cup.
Another man, Graham Sankey, has since admitted carrying out the attack and later withdrawn his signed confession.
City Labour leader Joe Anderson, who has led the campaign to free Michael, said: "We've been running a marathon and it looks like we're approaching the final few miles.
"But that's why it is as vital as ever that people do what they can to keep the fight in the public eye. We need to keep the pressure on the Government to recognise an outright miscarriage of justice which they continue to uphold by keeping Michael in prison.
"I will continue to call for Jack Straw to release Michael on bail, even wearing a tag if he has to, while the police investigation by Merseyside is ongoing.
"That really is the least that Mr Straw should do."
Merseyside police have been interviewing a number of key eye witnesses who saw the attack on Mr Georgiev and putting together their own picture of what happened on the night he was attacked outside a takeaway.
Cllr Anderson added that he has also asked Mr Straw to consider the influence of the Bulgarian media on the trial. He said: "Lest we forget Michael was handcuffed to a radiator in a waiting room and countless people walked past him. Then his photograph was in the Bulgarian newspapers before the police even conducted an ID parade.
The investigation and prosecution was deeply, deeply flawed from the outset."
On Saturday, supporters carrying banners will walk from St George's plateau, onto Islington, then West Derby Road before finishing at Lower Breck Road.
One Liverpool man, who has already signed a sworn witness statement which has been submitted to Jack Straw, befriended attack victim Mr Georgiev during his holiday
He told police Michael was not present during the attack.
http://www.liverpoolbanter.co.uk/2009/04/liverpool-fc-fans-plan-match-d.htmlI encourage local fans that can go to march for jailed Mr.Shields.
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