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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Jailed fan 'can get free pardon' | Jailed fan 'can get free pardon' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Jailed Liverpool fan Michael Shields has won an important battle at the High Court in London in his bid for a free pardon. | Jailed Liverpool fan Michael Shields has won an important battle at the High Court in London in his bid for a free pardon. |
| The 22-year-old is serving a 10-year sentence for the attempted murder of a barman in Bulgaria in 2005, but has always maintained his innocence. | The 22-year-old is serving a 10-year sentence for the attempted murder of a barman in Bulgaria in 2005, but has always maintained his innocence. |
| High Court judges have ruled Justice Secretary Jack Straw has the power to issue a pardon to Shields. | High Court judges have ruled Justice Secretary Jack Straw has the power to issue a pardon to Shields. |
| Mr Straw previously insisted he does not have the power to free him. | Mr Straw previously insisted he does not have the power to free him. |
| The two senior judges also ruled that it was for Mr Straw alone - and not the courts -to decide how to exercise that power. | |
| The judges said the Bulgarian judicial process was over, but there was fresh evidence which had not been considered by the Bulgarian courts. | |
| I hope and pray Mr Straw can do the right thing Michael Shields Snr | |
| In court the judges said: "It is, in our judgment, open to the Secretary of State to entertain a request to exercise the royal prerogative. It is not for this court to say whether or how it might be exercised." | |
| 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. | 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. |
| The Justice Secretary said the case had to be looked at very closely, along with the implication it could have on cases of other British prisoners abroad. | |
| Shields is currently serving the remainder of his sentence at Thorn Cross Young Offenders' Institute in Appleton Thorn in Warrington, Cheshire. | Shields is currently serving the remainder of his sentence at Thorn Cross Young Offenders' Institute in Appleton Thorn in Warrington, Cheshire. |
| Liverpool Labour Euro MP Arlene McCarthy, commenting on today's High Court ruling, said: "The High Court ruling frees the way for Michael's release. It's a brilliant result for Michael and his family and we are now finally seeing the end to a three-year battle to get justice for Michael." | |
| Following the decision, his father, Michael Shields Senior, said: "It's just heart-breaking for us. | |
| "We just want to get him home and put put everything behind us and get on with our lives. It's been so hard for us. | |
| "I hope and pray Mr Straw can do the right thing." |