| The Michael Shields Case | |
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CuZzA - Student  |
A Brief Summary: A Liverpool football fan has been jailed for 15 years for the attempted murder of a Bulgarian barman, despite another man admitting responsibility. Michael Shields, 18, from Wavertree, was accused of attacking the barman by throwing a brick/paving slab at his head. Martin Georgiev, 25, suffered a fractured skull and may have brain damage, the Bulgarian court was told. Graham Sankey, 20, an electrician from Anfield, Liverpool, said he carried out the attack. Michael Shields was picked out of a line up at a Bulgarian police station by the majority of the locals. Sankey later admitted to lying in his interview. Shields was made to wear a blank white shirt in the line up despite never taking one on holiday with him.Shields was asleep in his hotel room when the incident took place and this is supported by the statement of a hotel porter. Michael has now been sentenced to 15 years in jail and ordered to pay over £70,000 in damages and it is only with your help that we can get the Bulgarian authorities to release him. As much as you cannot condone his actions, Sankey has played his part by sending a confession and now it is up to the public to keep the media attention on the case to continue the fight for justice. A Timeline of Events: May 29 Martin Georgiev is attacked with paving slab. May 30 Liverpool youths Michael Shields, Graham Sankey, Anthony Wilson and Bradley Thompson arrested. Sankey released after questioning. Others detained overnight, Michael chained to a radiator. Jun 01 Sankey flies home, overheard saying he has "won the lottery". Jun 03 Echo story on Michael's arrest. Michael says he was asleep in a hotel room. Michael Snr flies to Bulgaria. Jun 08 Foreign secretary Jack Straw promises legal support. Jun 10 Leaflets and posters distributed across Liverpool by Shields family. Jun 14 Three Liverpool men fly to Bulgaria to sign sworn statements protesting Michael's innocence. Jun 27 Michael charged with attempted murder and hooliganism. Anthony Wilson charged with hooliganism and possession of cannabis. Bradley Thompson given suspended sentence for hooliganism. Jul 06 Michael reveals he knows the guilty man, but does not name Sankey. Jul 07 Sankey denies the attack. Jul 21 Trial begins. Jul 23 Sankey confesses to attack through solicitor. Jul 25 Judge rules confession inadmissable. Jul 26 Michael sentenced to 15 years in jail. Wilson given suspended sentence and freed. Jul 28 Sankey sends a signed confession to Bulgarian authorities. Aug 02 Michael's bail appeal is rejected by a Bulgarian court. Aug 03 The Shields family welcome reports that the Bulgarian minister of justice wants to interview Graham Sankey. Aug 04 Appeal for a holidaymaker witness, known only as Ian, to come forward to help in Michael's case. Aug 05 Prosecutors in Bulgaria announce that they would not investigate Graham Sankey. Aug 08 MP Louise Ellman calls for Sankey to be extradited, and calls on the foreign office to urge a retrial. Aug 09 Appeal launched in Bulgaria against Shields's conviction. Aug 15 The Shields family appeal for two English couples, who may have been involved in the original fight, to come forward. Aug 20 Liverpool FC fans show support for Michael with a mosaic on the Kop reading 'FREE MICHAEL'. Sep 01 Michael calls for Sankey to return to Bulgaria to pay for the crime he committed. Sep 08 Five coaches full of Michael's family and supporters travel to Foreign Secretary Jack Straw's Blackburn constituency to hand out leaflets and persuade Mr Straw to intervene in Michael's case. Sep 12 October 14 is the date set for Michael's appeal. Sep 13 Liverpool Labour party leader Joe Anderson meets authorities in Varna, Bulgaria, to present the two different statements of Graham Sankey. He believes the stark differences will drive home the need for them to closely question Sankey. Sankeys Confession: "I GRAHAM SANKEY, wish to make the following confession: On Sunday, May 29 2005 I was in the Bulgarian resort of Golden Sands near to the Port of Varna at about 5am. I unfortunately had far too much to drink; I had been drinking lager for the better part of the day. In the evening I estimate that I drank nearly a full bottle of vodka and I was very, very drunk. On my way back to the hotel I remember a disturbance and a fight was taking place involving a large number of people, some of whom were wearing red shirts. I could see bottles being thrown and as I drew closer a bottle smashed on the wall behind my head. As I turned to see where the bottle had come from I saw three men running at me with bottles and bricks in their hands. I panicked and stupidly picked up a brick and threw it in the direction of the men running towards me. I saw the brick hit one of them. I panicked and I turned and ran away and returned to the hotel. I did not know at that time that Mr Martin Georgiev had been injured. I was arrested (with others) by the Bulgarian police. The following day I was questioned by an investigator. I was utterly terrified and denied any involvement in the incident. I still did not know about the injuries to Mr Georgiev. I was then released and I discovered that Mr Georgiev had been seriously injured. I then returned to Liverpool. I accept that I must have caused the serious injury to Mr Georgiev. My conscience has been tormenting me ever since. I read in the papers about Michael Shields' trial, and I felt that I could not let an innocent man take the blame for what I had done. So I instructed my solicitor, Mr David Kirwan, to make public my acceptance of responsibility and my willingness to accept fully the consequences of my actions. I expected that the Bulgarian court would accept my admission and free Mr Shields. I was horrified that the court has refused to do this, so I am making this signed confession in the hope that an innocent man will no longer have to take responsibility for what I admit I did. Finally, I want to say that I bitterly regret what I did to Mr Georgiev. I wholeheartedly apologise to him, his family and the Bulgarian authorities. I am only 20 years old, and am appalled that I have ruined Mr Georgiev's life and that Michael Shields, an innocent man, has received blame for what I did. I just wish that I had my time over again." What do you guys think of this? Personally, I think it's sick _______________ - Even if Carlsberg made "w*nkers", Christiano Ronaldo would still be the biggest "w*nker" in the world This post was edited by CuZzA on Nov 10 2005 09:51pm. |
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Monteeeeeee - Nugget 
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Jul 06 Michael reveals he knows the guilty man, but does not name Sankey. Jul 07 Sankey denies the attack. thats where they screw up big time. _______________ If you add me to MSN, tell me who you are 
Best Movie Character EVER!! |
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Gil-Galad - Student 
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It is 100% true, it was all over the papers at the time. that confession was presented to the court by Graham Sankeys solicitor, but they ignored it and jailed Michael Shields the next day. They were more interested in a conviction than the right conviction. Its sad, sadder still that our government wont/cant do anything about it. _______________ |JAA| since 02/05/06 Green for life This comment was edited by Gil-Galad on Nov 13 2005 11:47pm. |
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JavaGuy - Student 
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Link? _______________ My signature is only one line. You're welcome. |
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CuZzA - Student 
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I got all that info from the official Michael Shields case website...everything there is true _______________ - Even if Carlsberg made "w*nkers", Christiano Ronaldo would still be the biggest "w*nker" in the world |
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Monteeeeeee - Nugget
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If there was real evidence to prove he didnt do it, then he is a free man, dont believe anything u read in the media, they twist anything and everything. i presume u got all the 'facts' from such media sites etc.. If he really didnt do it and someone else is admitting it then it will be dealt with and he will be freed. They have to formally charge the other guy before charges can be dropped on this guy. Also i find it hard to believe that if your in the firing line for the crime that you wouldnt give the name of the person you know did it, i dont care if its your best best best friend you would give the name, that was a stupid thing to do. _______________ If you add me to MSN, tell me who you are
Best Movie Character EVER!! This comment was edited by Monteeeeeee on Nov 10 2005 10:50pm. |
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