Straw sending new Shields file to Bulgarians

by Nick Webster. Published Fri 11 Sep 2009 11:44

Jack Straw

A file of new evidence on the Michael Shields case is to be handed to the Bulgarian legal authorities, it has emerged.

The Liverpool fan was freed from a UK prison on Wednesday 9th September when Justice Secretary Jack Straw granted a free pardon and declared him innocent.

He has served more than four years behind pars after being wrongly convicted of the murder of barman Martin Georgiev at Varna in May 2005.

Former student Michael, 22, has always denied any responsibility for the attack in which a lump of concrete was smashed on the barman's head during a brawl.

Attention has now focussed on electrician Graham Sankey, who was also arrested at the time but later released.

It was evidence about genuine nature of the sworn confession that Sankey made in July 2005 that finally swayed Jack Straw to release Michael.

Now it has emerged that Mr Straw plan to press the Bulgarians to re-open the case and bring the real culprit to justice.

A Justice Department source said: "The Secretary of State asked the British Ambassador in Sofia to supply the Bulgarian government with details of the decision and the new evidence."

When he freed Michael Mr Straw said he made no criticism of the Bulgarian court's judgment but added: "I've seen evidence that they did not."

The pardon granted to Michael has produced anger and confusion in Bulgaria.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Ivailo Kalfin said it "gave a bad signal to football hooliganism".

"Several people saw the attack. I feel political considerations took over the need for justice."

Merseyside police said they had no role in "a foreign investigation" and would not be interviewing Graham Sankey, who later withdrew his confession.

However sources in Merseyside Police revealed that records showed an individual fitting Sankey's description had gone to a police station at the time he made his confession.

The source said: "A man when to a police station and made enquires about what would happen if he made a confession to a crime committed in Bulgaria. The person wanted to know whether it was possible that he could be extradited."