This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/merseyside/7573858.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| New legal bid for Shields release | New legal bid for Shields release |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Lawyers acting for jailed Liverpool fan Michael Shields are to launch a new legal bid to secure his release. | Lawyers acting for jailed Liverpool fan Michael Shields are to launch a new legal bid to secure his release. |
| Shields is serving a 10-year sentence for the attempted murder of a barman in Bulgaria in 2005, but has always maintained his innocence. | Shields is serving a 10-year sentence for the attempted murder of a barman in Bulgaria in 2005, but has always maintained his innocence. |
| The 21-year-old is serving his sentence in England and Bulgarian officials say his release is up to UK authorities. | The 21-year-old is serving his sentence in England and Bulgarian officials say his release is up to UK authorities. |
| Justice Minister Jack Straw says UK law does not allow a release so lawyers are applying for a judicial review. | Justice Minister Jack Straw says UK law does not allow a release so lawyers are applying for a judicial review. |
| Mr Straw told Shields's supporters a few months ago he had no jurisdiction to consider either a pardon or an early release - and insisted it was down to Bulgarian authorities. | Mr Straw told Shields's supporters a few months ago he had no jurisdiction to consider either a pardon or an early release - and insisted it was down to Bulgarian authorities. |
| I shall continue to fight for this young man until justice has been done Louise Ellman MP | I shall continue to fight for this young man until justice has been done Louise Ellman MP |
| On Thursday, Shields's lawyer John Weate will serve papers seeking a judicial review of Mr Straw's position. | On Thursday, Shields's lawyer John Weate will serve papers seeking a judicial review of Mr Straw's position. |
| It will challenge Mr Straw's ruling regarding "the power to grant a pardon to repatriated prisoners wrongly convicted in a foreign jurisdiction". | It will challenge Mr Straw's ruling regarding "the power to grant a pardon to repatriated prisoners wrongly convicted in a foreign jurisdiction". |
| Louise Ellman, the Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, said: "This application for a judicial review is a vital step in securing justice for Michael Shields. | Louise Ellman, the Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, said: "This application for a judicial review is a vital step in securing justice for Michael Shields. |
| "It is important that there is legal clarity about who decides his future. | |
| "I shall continue to fight for this young man until justice has been done." | "I shall continue to fight for this young man until justice has been done." |
| If the application is successful, it does not mean necessarily that Mr Straw will order Shield's release but it would mean he would have to make a decision as to whether to. | If the application is successful, it does not mean necessarily that Mr Straw will order Shield's release but it would mean he would have to make a decision as to whether to. |