Michael Shields

[Cobs]

had his sentence reduced

[Rory Fitzgerald]

To what ?

[Guest AdamS]

Unless this is a half arsed way of letting him go I don't see how his sentence can be reduced. That was the subject of the last appeal, this was to appeal for a retrial.

[Billy Dane]

down to 10 years and fine increased. No new appeal I think ridiculous decision

[Falconhoof]

What AdamS said.

 

Why reduce the sentence ? The conviction was completely unsound, less time inside doesn't fix that.

[Tones]

Thats f***ing s***. Ridiculous.

[Huyton_Red]

Here is some more information from Liverpool Euro MP arlene mccarthy

 

http://www.arlenemccarthy.labour.co.uk/Vie....cfm?Page=16140

[Guest AdamS]

What Do You Mean?

I mean an earlier intervention while the process was ongoing would have been seen as premature. Now the process is effectively over the government can question the legitimacy of the whole process and the outcome. Whether they will is another matter.

[Guest roger]

Bulgarian Court: UK Deliberately Marred Our Image over Shields' Case

 

Top news: 28 April 2006, Friday.

 

Bulgaria's Supreme Cassation Court stated in its sentence of UK football fan Michael Shields that the UK had deliberately tried to undermine the image of Bulgaria's justice system during the trial.

 

The Court's 21-page-long decision states that "the public opinion in the defendant's country has been deliberately manipulated through selective reporting of only part of the information." This aimed at compromising the Bulgarian court system by creating a wrong idea of whether Bulgaria is a government of law, the court said.

 

"British football fans have misbehaved for several days and nights in Bulgaria, rudely disregarding the hotel rules and vandalizing public spaces," the sentence points out.

 

novinite

 

Waggons in a circle over there it would seem.

[Cobs]

 

"British football fans have misbehaved for several days and nights in Bulgaria, rudely disregarding the hotel rules and vandalizing public spaces," the sentence points out.

 

 

which has precisely feck all to do with this case at hand.

[Guest roger]

I mean an earlier intervention while the process was ongoing would have been seen as premature. Now the process is effectively over the government can question the legitimacy of the whole process and the outcome. Whether they will is another matter.

 

A British Embassy financed survey recently found that the effectiveness of the Bulgarian Legal System met EU standards.

 

link

[Guest redman in wales]

Completely incorrect.

 

There are many many cases of appeals where guilt is maintained yet sentence reduced.

 

My use of the term goodwill you will see was a comparative phrase.

 

apologies GEH007, i took your term as literal, not comparitive....

[bigdave50uk]

looks like he will serve the rest of it in the uk, little bonus

The Bulgarian appeal judges have agreed that Michael should be allowed to serve the rest of his sentence on British soil and he is expected to be repatriated within a month.

From the icliverpool article

Edited April 28, 2006 by bigdave50uk

[Guest Red Mist]

Poor lad. Boycotting Bulgaria is a good suggestion. Not only to hit their tourism industry, but also to avoid something like this again. Evidently justice is not something that exists in that country, so none of us should take the risk of falling victim to their crazy judicial/police procedures.

[Guest roger]

I would have thought they'd make him pay the £71,000 before he was repatriated to serve his sentence here. Otherwise they'd risk him not paying.

[Kenny_]

Awful news.

 

So gutted for Michael and his family...

[M_B]

Poor lad. Boycotting Bulgaria is a good suggestion. Not only to hit their tourism industry, but also to avoid something like this again. Evidently justice is not something that exists in that country, so none of us should take the risk of falling victim to their crazy judicial/police procedures.

 

I'm not sure about that. Many people, including the UK reps, depend on the tourist industry for a living - why should they be held to account over a judicial process they can do nothing about ?

 

Not that it would matter in reality. The 'boycotted' places would be filled by someone else anyway. The best way forward would be to take it to the European Court.

[Huyton_Red]

which has precisely feck all to do with this case at hand.

 

Exactly, and those type of statements from the Bulgarian authorities give some indication as to their thinking and why they refuse to look at this case again, someone had to pay. They have someone now

[Owen1978]

I think time has come for action, politics is going to solve FA, why doesnt blair give the go ahead for the SAS to get the lad out of there, i am serious!

[5InIstanbul]

I think time has come for action, politics is going to solve FA, why doesnt blair give the go ahead for the SAS to get the lad out of there, i am serious!

I hope you're not.

[Ostrich Man]

Boycotting Bulgaria is a good suggestion. Not only to hit their tourism industry, but also to avoid something like this again. Evidently justice is not something that exists in that country, so none of us should take the risk of falling victim to their crazy judicial/police procedures.

if your gonna boycott countries where miscarriages of justice happen youd basically have to declare your house an independant state and never leave it ever again.

[Falconhoof]

I think time has come for action, politics is going to solve FA, why doesnt blair give the go ahead for the SAS to get the lad out of there, i am serious!

 

 

Jeesus!

[Guest Kev]

I honestly cannot believe this decision. I feel like crying for the lad and his family. Reducing the sentence effectively means nothing, I can't even class it as a gesture.

 

I don't know how the family will take this or Michael, but we must increase our efforts to support them all.

 

The first thing I would like to see happen is tomorrow at the match a long and loud chant for Michael.

 

I feel gutted, Casey, Owen - pass on all our heart felt feelings to Michael Snr and Marie.

 

Life is s***.

[dorgie]

A complete cop out by the Bulgarians. Disgraceful.

[Andy-oh-six]

s*** news. Bulgarian courts are a joke. Feel for the lad and his family.