davieG Posted 9 September 2009 Posted 9 September 2009 At last. What a joke that was, poor lad. A little more info would have been useful for those who don't know who he is? http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/sep/09/l...hields-pardoned
Shrenchel Posted 9 September 2009 Author Posted 9 September 2009 A little more info would have been useful for those who don't know who he is?http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/sep/09/l...hields-pardoned Yeah apologies, maybe wrongly assumed everyone would remember. That link doesn't say much about the conviction but basically two people that worked in the hotel corroborated his claim he'd been asleep at the time and another geezer confessed to doing it but the Bulgarian court wouldn't listen. Dunno what this new evidence is. Good chant to be fair.
Salieri Posted 9 September 2009 Posted 9 September 2009 About bloody time. Ludicrous that its taken this long for justice to prevail despite overwhelming evidence proving his innocence.
Dr The Singh Posted 9 September 2009 Posted 9 September 2009 About bloody time. Ludicrous that its taken this long for justice to prevail despite overwhelming evidence proving his innocence. Agreed, still justice has previaled, it shows how nations differ!!!
MC Prussian Posted 9 September 2009 Posted 9 September 2009 http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20090909/tuk-at...be-45dbed5.html Football Fan Freed After Royal Pardon The 22-year-old Michael Shields was convicted after a disturbance following Liverpool FC's European Cup victory in 2005. The Liverpool supporter was later transferred to a prison in the UK. He was pardoned by Justice Secretary Jack Straw following a campaign by his family, MPs, clergymen, and Liverpool players, who believe he is innocent. His lawyer John Wheate said he would be freed today. He said his client was "absolutely ecstatic" when told the news. Shields' parents were told of the decision in a telephone call with Mr Straw this morning. Mr. Wheate said: "I don't know if Michael has been released yet but I can confirm he has been pardoned and will be released today. "His parents spoke to Jack Straw earlier this morning and I have spoken to Michael myself. "At first he couldn't believe it after all these years and knock backs. "But now he is absolutely ecstatic and so are his family." Mr. Straw changed his mind over the pardon after new evidence emerged which convinced him of Shields' innocence, he said in a statement. He said he was told by Shields' parents about a meeting between members of the Shields family and another man accused of the killing. Mr. Straw was told the unnamed man confessed to the killing on the second day of Shields' trial in Bulgaria. He added: "I will not set out in this statement all the evidence that has come to light over the last two weeks. "But suffice it to say that there is very good reason to believe I was being told the truth." He added: "I have concluded, having looked carefully at all the evidence now available, that Michael Shields is telling the truth when he says he is innocent."
MPH Posted 9 September 2009 Posted 9 September 2009 im glad he is out but still feel gutted that the poor lad spent important years banged up abroad for a crime he didnt commit... glad justice has finally been done and its us that have seen sense.
lou Posted 9 September 2009 Posted 9 September 2009 Bloody ridiculous hes spent 4 years behind bars for something he blatently hadnt done. Glad hes free but it shouldnt have taken so long. Hope he has a brilliant life from now on.
James. Posted 9 September 2009 Posted 9 September 2009 Can't remember the ins and outs of this but if he didn't do it then who did? And how has that person slept at night knowing an innocent bloke was locked up for his crime?
lou Posted 9 September 2009 Posted 9 September 2009 Can't remember the ins and outs of this but if he didn't do it then who did? And how has that person slept at night knowing an innocent bloke was locked up for his crime? Im guessing the guy who confessed to it may be the one to blame Nah seriously someone fessed up (its in the article) but now theyre trying to say it might have been a different fight they were in.
Guest Bilo Posted 9 September 2009 Posted 9 September 2009 Should never have gone down in the first place, but glad that he's finally out. The fact that he has been pardoned rather than had his sentence quashed probably means he can't even sue for the years the Bulgarian "justice" system took from him either.
Salieri Posted 9 September 2009 Posted 9 September 2009 Should never have gone down in the first place, but glad that he's finally out. The fact that he has been pardoned rather than had his sentence quashed probably means he can't even sue for the years the Bulgarian "justice" system took from him either. Good point, never thought of that. Despite the tragic circumstances, I hope he fills his boots financially. He can't get back the years he lost but he may as well make a few quid and try to get on to enjoy the rest of his life. Lets face it, the media will be queuing up to pay him top dollar for his story.
Fosse Boy Posted 9 September 2009 Posted 9 September 2009 About time. Hope his experience hasn't traumatised him too much.
Webbo Posted 9 September 2009 Posted 9 September 2009 Did the man who confessed do it under oath? Would the govt extradite the confessor on the basis of this confession? I don't know whether the chap is guilty or not but a confession from some random scouser who's well in the clear doesn't convince me that he's innocent.
MPH Posted 9 September 2009 Posted 9 September 2009 Did the man who confessed do it under oath? Would the govt extradite the confessor on the basis of this confession?I don't know whether the chap is guilty or not but a confession from some random scouser who's well in the clear doesn't convince me that he's innocent. I doubt very much that they could extradite him as its been said that Michael shields has been pardoned instead of cleared so, as far as the Bulgarian authorities are concerned, they still still have a conviction and the guilty man was still punished.
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