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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
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| Pardon appeal for Shields refused | Pardon appeal for Shields refused |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Jailed Liverpool football fan Michael Shields has had an appeal for a pardon provisionally refused by Justice Secretary Jack Straw. | Jailed Liverpool football fan Michael Shields has had an appeal for a pardon provisionally refused by Justice Secretary Jack Straw. |
| Shields is serving a 10-year sentence for the attempted murder of a Bulgarian barman after his team's victory in the Champions League Final in 2005. | Shields is serving a 10-year sentence for the attempted murder of a Bulgarian barman after his team's victory in the Champions League Final in 2005. |
| High Court judges ruled in December that Mr Straw had the power to grant Shields a pardon. | High Court judges ruled in December that Mr Straw had the power to grant Shields a pardon. |
| Shields, 22, from Edge Hill, Liverpool, has always maintained his innocence. | Shields, 22, from Edge Hill, Liverpool, has always maintained his innocence. |
| A statement issued by the Ministry of Justice said: "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. | A statement issued by the Ministry of Justice said: "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. |
| The father of Liverpool fan Michael Shields reacts to the news his son has not been pardoned | The father of Liverpool fan Michael Shields reacts to the news his son has not been pardoned |
| "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." | "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." |
| The football fan is serving his sentence at Thorn Cross Young Offenders Institute, in Appleton Thorn, Warrington. | The football fan is serving his sentence at Thorn Cross Young Offenders Institute, in Appleton Thorn, Warrington. |
| Shields, who is due for release in May 2010, has been told he can make further representations to Mr Straw who will then make a final decision. | Shields, who is due for release in May 2010, has been told he can make further representations to Mr Straw who will then make a final decision. |
| I have spoken to Michael and he is absolutely distraught Michael Shields Snr A family's battle to free son | I have spoken to Michael and he is absolutely distraught Michael Shields Snr A family's battle to free son |
| Shields was with a group of friends who visited the Golden Sands resort in Varna, Bulgaria, after the club's Champions League win in Istanbul. | Shields was with a group of friends who visited the Golden Sands resort in Varna, Bulgaria, after the club's Champions League win in Istanbul. |
| He was arrested with several others by local police on 30 May 2005 after barman Martin Georgiev was hit on the head with a paving slab, suffering a fractured skull. | He was arrested with several others by local police on 30 May 2005 after barman Martin Georgiev was hit on the head with a paving slab, suffering a fractured skull. |
| He was convicted later that year and transferred to the UK in 2006 to complete his 15-year sentence, which was reduced on appeal to 10 years. | He was convicted later that year and transferred to the UK in 2006 to complete his 15-year sentence, which was reduced on appeal to 10 years. |
| Shields' father, also Michael, said: "We are absolutely devastated. I have spoken to Michael and he is absolutely distraught. | Shields' father, also Michael, said: "We are absolutely devastated. I have spoken to Michael and he is absolutely distraught. |
| "I don't know how much more we can take as a family. One minute we are expecting him to be pardoned and released then the next minute all our hopes are dashed. | "I don't know how much more we can take as a family. One minute we are expecting him to be pardoned and released then the next minute all our hopes are dashed. |
| "All I can say is that Michael, his family and all the campaigners are absolutely heartbroken." | "All I can say is that Michael, his family and all the campaigners are absolutely heartbroken." |
| 'Strong emotions' | 'Strong emotions' |
| Mr Shields, along with his wife Marie, have led the campaign to have their son freed. | Mr Shields, along with his wife Marie, have led the campaign to have their son freed. |
| Mrs Shields described Mr Straw's decision as a disgrace and said: "This feels like a knife in the back." | Mrs Shields described Mr Straw's decision as a disgrace and said: "This feels like a knife in the back." |
| Shields' legal team has a month to put forward representation to Mr Straw. | Shields' legal team has a month to put forward representation to Mr Straw. |
| The justice secretary, who had previously argued that he had no authority to grant a pardon, stressed that his decision was provisional. | The justice secretary, who had previously argued that he had no authority to grant a pardon, stressed that his decision was provisional. |
| "I understand, of course, the strong emotions felt by the Shields family and his many supporters in Liverpool and way beyond Liverpool," said Mr Straw. | "I understand, of course, the strong emotions felt by the Shields family and his many supporters in Liverpool and way beyond Liverpool," said Mr Straw. |
| "What I ask people in return is that you have to operate in this country by the rule of law." | "What I ask people in return is that you have to operate in this country by the rule of law." |
| He added that Shields' legal team now had a month to put forward more evidence. | |
| "Of course, I am open to further representations from Mr Shields and I am seeking them," he said. |