UK Approaches EC over Shield's Trial in Bulgaria

Crime | April 28, 2006, Friday // 00:00

A Liverpool Labour Euro MP said she has contacted the justice department of the European Commission to lodge a complaint about what she called Bulgaria's failure to give a British football fan a fair trial.

"Bulgaria is an EU accession country, which has failed to enable my constituent to have a fair trial," BBC cited Arlene McCarthy as saying, hours after the Supreme Court in Sofia sentenced Michael Shields to ten years in jail.

"I will continue to push for Michael's right to a fair trial under the European Convention on Human Rights and will be exploring all avenues that are now available to him."

"There were clear flaws in the investigation of this crime and the following trial. This must be acknowledged by the judiciary in Bulgaria."

Liverpool football fan Michael Shields, jailed in Bulgaria for the attempted murder of a barman, was refused a retrial.

The Bulgarian Supreme Court cut Friday his sentence from 15 to 10 years and ordered him to pay a GBP 71,000 fine.

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