Shields denied release
Posted by AnfieldRed-Admin | Posted in Discussion, Liverpool FC | Posted on 02-07-2009
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Michael Shields has been denied a pardon by Jack Straw which would have seen him released from jail for a crime he has always maintained he did not commit.
Shields was watching the Champion’s League final in 2005, but was staying in a Bulgarian resort, and was jailed for attempted murder of a Bulgarian barman. Shields was brought back to the UK to serve out his sentence here, yet the high court ruled the Ministry of Justice could issue a pardon, however today an official statement denying Michael’s release was issued:
“Following a detailed and careful consideration of all the relevant evidence the Justice Secretary Jack Straw has made a provisional decision that the application for a free pardon from Mr Michael Shields should be refused.
“Mr Straw has made his decision in accordance with the High Court judgment of 17 December 2008 which indicated that, in order to grant a free pardon, he would have to be satisfied that Mr Shields was morally and technically innocent.”
“This is a very high test and the justice secretary has provisionally concluded that on the evidence he currently has, that test is not met.”
