Thursday, July 28, 2005
Innocent Liverpool fan jailed in Bulgaria
I don't know if any other blogs have written about this but I was shocked to read that a Liverpool football fan has been jailed for 15 years for the attempted murder of a Bulgarian barman - despite another man admitting responsibility.
Michael Shields, 18, from Wavertree, was accused of attacking barman Michael Georgiev, 25, by throwing a brick at his head. Georgiev suffered a fractured skull and may now have brain damage.
On Saturday Graham Sankey, 20, an electrician from Anfield, Liverpool, said he carried out the attack in a statement made in the UK through his solicitor David Kirwan.
Mr Kirwan said: "Graham believed the case against Michael would either be thrown or adjourned after he came forward to make his confession.
"But, to his total despair, the judge decided to continue trying Michael."
Michael Shield's family are in shock at the news and Liverpool Riverside MP Louise Ellman, who has backed the Shields' family campaign, labelled it a travesty of justice. She said she would be talking to the UK Government and Foreign Office.
This is absolutely disgraceful and hopefully the British government will get in touch with the Bulgarian authorities. How on earth can a man be convicted and sentenced for a crime that he blatantly did not commit? Disgusting.
The British need to do everything in their power to have Michael Shields freed.
Michael Shields, 18, from Wavertree, was accused of attacking barman Michael Georgiev, 25, by throwing a brick at his head. Georgiev suffered a fractured skull and may now have brain damage.
On Saturday Graham Sankey, 20, an electrician from Anfield, Liverpool, said he carried out the attack in a statement made in the UK through his solicitor David Kirwan.
Mr Kirwan said: "Graham believed the case against Michael would either be thrown or adjourned after he came forward to make his confession.
"But, to his total despair, the judge decided to continue trying Michael."
Michael Shield's family are in shock at the news and Liverpool Riverside MP Louise Ellman, who has backed the Shields' family campaign, labelled it a travesty of justice. She said she would be talking to the UK Government and Foreign Office.
This is absolutely disgraceful and hopefully the British government will get in touch with the Bulgarian authorities. How on earth can a man be convicted and sentenced for a crime that he blatantly did not commit? Disgusting.
The British need to do everything in their power to have Michael Shields freed.
# posted by United Irelander @ 1:43 AM 
© 2008 United Irelander.
