17/12/2008

Jailed Liverpool Fan Wins High Court Bid

A Liverpool football fan who was jailed in Bulgaria for attempted murder, has won a High Court battle in his bid for a free pardon.

Michael Shields, 22, is serving a 10-year sentence for the attempted murder of a barman in Bulgaria. The barman was attacked following Liverpool's Champions League final victory in Istanbul, Turkey in May 2005.

High Court judges have ruled that Justice Secretary Jack Straw can "grant a pardon to repatriated prisoners wrongly convicted in a foreign jurisdiction".

The 22-year-old's lawyers applied for a judicial review of Mr Straw’s position, and judges reserved their judgment at a hearing in London on 4 December.

Mr Straw had previously insisted he does not have the power to free him.

Shields - who maintains his innocence - was initially jailed for 15 years, but was transferred to the UK in 2006. He was convicted of attempted murder after a paving slab was dropped on barman Martin Georgiev's head.

He is serving the remainder of his sentence - which was reduced to 10 years on appeal in Bulgaria - at HMP Haverigg in Cumbria.

(JM/KMcA)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

04 December 2008
Jailed Liverpool Fan Takes Case To High Court
A Liverpool football fan who is jailed in Bulgaria, is due to take his bid for freedom to the High Court in London, (pictured). Michael Shields, 22, is serving a 10-year sentence for the attempted murder of a barman in Bulgaria. The barman was attacked following Liverpool's Champions League final victory in Istanbul, Turkey in May 2005.
21 October 2013
Convicted Killer Pleads Guilty To Graham Buck Murder
Convicted killer Ian John McLoughlin has pleaded guilty to the murder of Graham Buck, who died trying to help his neighbour in Little Gaddesden, Hertfordshire, in July. 55-year-old McLoughlin was on day release from prison when he fatally stabbed Graham Buck (66) in the neck.
16 June 2006
Pair jailed for life for barman's murder
Two men have been jailed for life today at the Old Bailey, after they pleaded guilty to the homophobic murder of gay barman Jody Dobrowski.
11 May 2012
Man Jailed Indefinitely For Gouging Girlfriends Eyes
A man who blinded his girlfriend by gouging out her eyes has been jailed indefinitely. Shane Jenkin, 33, of Sea Lane in Hale, viciously attacked Tina Nash and broke her nose as jaw as well as throttling her. Jenkin admitted a charge of grevious bodily harm last month at Truro Crown Court, however he denied attempted murder.
23 May 2006
Anti-war protest placards removed from Parliament
Police have removed anti-war placards, which were part of a five-year vigil by peace activist Brian Haw, from outside the Houses of Parliament. Police removed the placards belonging to Mr Haw in the early hours of Tuesday morning, leaving him with just one placard.