Rafa calls for justice over jailed Michael
Aug 9 2005
Daily Post
LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez is supporting the campaign to help release Reds fan Michael Shields from a Bulgarian prison.
He said: "We must have justice. Everyone has the right to a fair trial.
"We must support someone because of this. It is not a political matter and it doesn't matter which football team someone supports.
"This is about a human being. There must be a possibility of a fair trial."
Mr Benitez's plea came as the Bulgarian authorities were criticised for refusing to introduce new measures which could eventually prove the innocence of 18-year-old Michael Shields.
Despite increasing pressure, prosecutors are not initiating extradition proceedings against fellow Liverpudlian Graham Sankey who has admitted the buttault for which Shields was sentenced to 15 years.
They claim Sankey's signed confession concerned "another incident" rather than the brawl outside a fast food outlet in which a local barman almost lost his life.
In response, Riverside MP Louise Ellman said the attitude of the Bulgarian authorities was outrageous.
She said: "Sankey should be extradited so he can be interviewed by the Bulgarian police."
Mrs Ellman is stepping up pressure on the Foreign Office to intervenel.
