Petition to free Michael Shields

BULGARIAN politicians have admitted for the first time that new evidence casts doubt on Michael Shields’s conviction.

The surprise revelation came from Bulgarian supreme judicial council member Tsoni Tsonev during a European Parliament hearing.

Mr Tsonev was speaking after Merseyside MEP Arlene McCarthy and Michael’s lawyer Peter Weatherby tabled a petition claiming he was the victim of a legal miscarriage.

After the hearing in Strasbourg yesterday the petitions committee voted to investigate the failure of the Bulgarian authorities to respond to the new dossier of evidence of witness statements which clear Michael, and lie detector tests which he passed.

But Bulgarian diplomats said they would not act regardless of what the European Parliament decided.

Mrs McCarthy and Mr Weatherby argued Bulgaria was breaching EU law by repeatedly refusing to agree a pardon or a retrial despite compelling evidence of the Reds fan’s innocence.

The pair are part of a team who have tried to win the release of the Edge Hill 21-year-old convicted of hitting Bulgarian bartender Martin Georgiev with a paving stone after the 2005 European Cup final.

The Bulgarian government has refused to reopen the case.

But president Georgi Parvanov has hinted he would not object to a UK pardon.

Justice Minister Jack Straw is still waiting to hear from Queen’s Counsel whether he could issue a pardon.

Mrs McCarthy said: “This is the first opportunity we have had to put the full facts on the table.

“We have taken this petition to the European Parliament because we are frustrated at the failure of the Bulgarian authorities to engage with Michael Shields’s legal team.

“We have achieved this result with the support of other MEPs and in the face of continued resistance by the Bulgarians.”

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-n...00252-20984512/

Just hurry up & pardon him already will ya! I don't see why the government are dragging their heels on this, the Bulgarians have all but said they don't really care what we do about it, and he is clearly innocent, so just let him go FFS!

European Parliament havent got a clue either have Bulgarian Politicans, the fact that the European Parliament have not engaged Michael Shields’s legal team is just so childish and stupid, they dont even care, if it was one of there own, ohh things would be different. Just give the damn pardon.

This is really frustrating you would have thought that they would release him when the other guy admitted the assault but no, what about when he passed the lie detector teats? no WHAT MORE DO THEY WANT FFS!

JACK Straw today dealt a major blow to Michael Shields’s bid for freedom by admitting he does not have the legal power to release him.

Campaigners learned of the devastating set-back after three hours of talks involving the Justice secretary and his top legal advisers in Westminster.

It means Michael’s hopes of an early release – and formally clearing his name – are practically in ruins.

The Edge Hill student was told the news late last night.

He told friends he is more concerned about how it will upset his mum Marie.

The 21-year-old, who has already served three years of his attempted murder sentence, is due for release in May 2010.

Campaigners vowed the fight to free the engineering trainee will continue.

But city Labour leader Joe Anderson admitted it was “the biggest blow yet”.

It's like the blind leading the blind. Now it will go back to Bulgarian officials and then they'll pass it back to us.

Nobody wants to take the responsibility for this horrible blunder.

I can't stand Jack Straw.

JACK Straw today dealt a major blow to Michael Shields’s bid for freedom by admitting he does not have the legal power to release him.

Campaigners learned of the devastating set-back after three hours of talks involving the Justice secretary and his top legal advisers in Westminster.

It means Michael’s hopes of an early release – and formally clearing his name – are practically in ruins.

The Edge Hill student was told the news late last night.

He told friends he is more concerned about how it will upset his mum Marie.

The 21-year-old, who has already served three years of his attempted murder sentence, is due for release in May 2010.

Campaigners vowed the fight to free the engineering trainee will continue.

But city Labour leader Joe Anderson admitted it was “the biggest blow yet”.

A pile of absolute bollocks is the understatement of the century. Just imagine if the bloke had died (God forbid). He'd be serving even longer. F***ing daft.

Signed it on RAWK sorry, met Michael Shields mum and dad at an SOS sportsmans night last friday, his dad said Micheal might be in for another 2 years !! And that he was now in a jail in the lake district I think, sorry but I'd had a bit of ale like. The law is sh*te, he's innocent, why is he still in there even ??

Forgot to say, when Michael is finally released, his dad said Liverpool will have the biggest welcome home party ever seen, can't happen quickly enough, in my opinion.

Jesus just read the post above mine, i feel a proper beaut now, but Michael senior did say them things at the SOS do. Jack Straw=arsehole.

It's just wrong isn't it.

Very very wrong.

Signed

Can't believe he is still locked up and so angry to the point where I wanna do a Guy Fawkes on the houses of Parliament

Signed

YNWA

why don't we start up an online government petition - think thats been done?

Why don't we just break him out.

lets stage a march outside Downing street, block Parliament , better still lets cause a riot outside the prison

JAILED Liverpool fan Michael Shields is expected to find out today whether Justice Minister Jack Straw can grant him a pardon.

Lawyers for Michael said today was the deadline for a response from the Ministry of Justice about whether Mr Straw has the power to free the student or if they must seek a judicial review.

If Mr Straw’s office decides he can absolve Michael, he could be freed before his 2010 release date.

Michael’s lawyer John Weate said whatever the response, the fight to free the Reds fan – who turned 22 on Sunday – would go on.



Fingers crossed

Why don't we just break him out.

I've got Michael Schofield's number.  If all fails.

Seriously this has gone on long enough know, this lad's had years snatched away from him because some Waiter pointed at him and said "he tried to kill me" no evidence, nothing.

F***ing bas**rds.  The law in some countries need seriously revising.

F***ing ridiculous. I agree with Court - countries need to look at their laws and use that squishy thing between their ears to see that it doesn't make sense!

As a nation even we are not that bad at jailing foreigners for a crime they did not commit!

Anyone heard any news on the decision then?

Don't think he got it, but I cant find anything out for sure, but I will keep looking.

I think he will have to do 5 years at leased.

SAD very SAD.

JUSTICE minister Jack Straw has told the family of Michael Shields that he has no power to grant the jailed Liverpool fan a pardon.

The news means 22-year-old Michael’s chances of freedom rest on whether high court judges review the decision and decide the Ministry of Justice does have the jurisdiction to set him free from his 10-year sentence.

At the end of the 21-day response period yesterday, a letter from Mr Straw received by Michael’s lawyer John Weate explained that the power to grant Michael his release lies in Bulgaria, not Westminster.

Michael was jailed there for 15 years in 2005 for attempted murder. He maintains his innocence and was moved to Haverigg prison in Cumbria in 2006 after his sentence was reduced to 10 years. He is due to remain there until 2010.

The Gov. response was to pass the buck back to Michaels family, they were told they cannot interfere in another country's law. Very liberal with who they bargain with are the Gov. and to say they do not get involved in others affairs is pure farce as they do it all the time, they could have and should have shown their anger at least by releasing Michael Shields the moment he set foot on these shores instead of putting him in the nick to finish his sentence. I hope you find the justice you & your family deserve Michael....

http://www.spiritofshankly.com/news/Follow-up-meeting-with-Rick-Parry.html

11. Michael Shields' bucket collection - thanks. 

 * We expressed our thanks to RP, and GP and his stewards for their co-operation and generosity. It was appreciated.  Also told RP to personally pass on our gratitude to the people working in the cash office, we explained the situation where we were left to count the money with the help of the cash office staff. RP said that was not the agreed plan and he would see what went wrong and the reasons why it was not securicor counting.