Michael Shields won his review

[CarraLegend]

on Sky news now. Think this means its now up to Jack Straw doesnt it?

[M4TTA]

delighted for the lad and his family i really am! what a christmas present that is!

[johngibo YPC]

Not sure what the next step is now, but this is obviously a huge breakthrough

[Swipe]

Where does Jack Straw stand on it all? I mean, is there a chance that he won't pardon him, despite now having the power to do so?

[owenthomas]

just got out of a meeting and came to post this - my phone's going off its head vibrating in my pocket while i was in the meeting.. i thought "this is either very good news or Rafas kidney stone was worse than first feared"..

 

fkin overjoyed for Maria and Michael - my mum, auntie's and everyone in the family will enjoy a good old piss up on this news!

[Maldini]

They're saying Jack Straw will not appeal the decision

[fabfive]

They're saying Jack Straw will not appeal the decision

He'd look like the biggest Grinch if he did.

[Maldini]

They seem to be backtracking on that now, they've taken the graphic off the screen and they just read a quote from him saying "he needs to weigh up the consequences"

[Chili Palmer]

just got out of a meeting and came to post this - my phone's going off its head vibrating in my pocket while i was in the meeting.. i thought "this is either very good news or Rafas kidney stone was worse than first feared"..

 

fkin overjoyed for Maria and Michael - my mum, auntie's and everyone in the family will enjoy a good old piss up on this news!

 

great news for the lad, and his family.

[AE]

As I understand it from reading the article it means the high court have said he (Jack Straw) does have the power to pardon him, So this means it is now a "political game" I assume???

[Molby]

what possible reason could he have for not letting him go?

 

he hid behind the judicial powers thing and now he's out on his own

 

it would even be bad politically as well as morally not to release him

 

ffs Straw - do it now!

[Christine]

Straw said previously he would have freed Michael but he didn’t have the power to do so – will be very interesting to see what he does now he’s been told he does have the power.

 

I think he’ll be torn on this one, I don’t doubt he wants to release him it’s just the implications of making such a decision that will worry him.

Edited December 17, 2008 by Christine

[Spike]

A HUGE step. Made up for the SHields family and all involved in the campaign.

[SkippyjonJones]

Excellent stuff. Now its down to Straw. Everyone else has washed their hands of the responsibility of making the decision to this point. Lets see what he does now. Lets hope he doesn’t use this as an excuse tograndstand.

[Redwire]

Excellent stuff. Now its down to Straw. Everyone else has washed their hands of the responsibility of making the decision to this point. Lets see what he does now. Lets hope he doesn’t use this as an excuse tograndstand.

 

Straw is a c*nt though so I wouldn't be surprised.

[matty]

To be fair to Straw, which I don't really like being, this does seem to be something of a landmark ruling. Giving ministers executive powers over people who have been convicted by foreign courts is quite something. The implications are quite widespread, and so I wouldn't be surprised if the MoJ takes the time to react, although they will have had warning of the verdict.

 

Ministers actually don't always like having power over who should stay in prison and who shouldn't, largely because they'd rather be able to blame judges for getting it wrong. At other times, of course, they do want that power.

 

I think the MoJ would have to be braced for a large number of direct appeals from people serving sentences in the UK but who were convicted abroad. That may be a big headache for them.

 

Tis very good news, of course.

Edited December 17, 2008 by matty

[Tones]

Good news, hope he gets out soon.

[matty]

BBC website says this:

 

"Mr Straw said he would appoint senior counsel to advise him on whether to pardon Shields or not, in light of the High Court decision."

[sutty]

Great news

[Knox_Harrington]

Excellent stuff. Massive well done to all who have worked for some time for this and he will hopefully be free very soon.

[SkippyjonJones]

To be fair to Straw, which I don't really like being, this does seem to be something of a landmark ruling. Giving ministers executive powers over people who have been convicted by foreign courts is quite something. The implications are quite widespread, and so I wouldn't be surprised if the MoJ takes the time to react, although they will have had warning of the verdict.

 

Ministers actually don't always like having power over who should stay in prison and who shouldn't, largely because they'd rather be able to blame judges for getting it wrong. At other times, of course, they do want that power.

 

I think the MoJ would have to be braced for a large number of direct appeals from people serving sentences in the UK but who were convicted abroad. That may be a big headache for them.

 

Tis very good news, of course.

In this case the Bulgarian authorities and courts have said that they cannot/will not make a decision as Shields is no longer under their jurisdiction. As far as they are concerned they have no longer involvement. So someone, somewhere has to make that decision/ review and it surely has to fall to Straw in cases like this.

[muleskinner]

Great news and also well done to SOS for keeping the case profile raised recently.

[Jarg Armani]

Brilliant news. Would be nice to think he might be out for Christmas.

[matty]

In this case the Bulgarian authorities and courts have said that they cannot/will not make a decision as Shields is no longer under their jurisdiction. As far as they are concerned they have no longer involvement. So someone, somewhere has to make that decision/ review and it surely has to fall to Straw in cases like this.

Yes that is absolutely correct. But what is also correct is that Straw cannot just immediately say 'let him out', without having such a review. I think we are agreeing.

 

Over the longer term, they may need to set up some process for dealing with similar cases that is not-ministerial, as having a minister making decisions on who should and should not be in prison risks political interference in judicial process.

 

All said, I reckon there's no way he'll still be in prison in a few weeks, and they could even release him on licence until the 'review' is finalised.

[Des]

Looking good, this.